Gardaí confirmed yesterday that they were still looking for the driver of an oil tanker who was responsible for a spate of crashes in south Tipperary and Kilkenny on Thursday because his vehicle was leaking diesel fuel.
In what gardaí have described as a puzzling case, the identity of the driver is still unknown despite an appeal to motorists to come forward with information.
The tanker began leaking diesel on the N24 between Tipperary town and Cahir at 8am on Thursday, with three cars skidding in the spillage.
Seven people were taken to Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel as a result of the incident. They were treated for minor injuries and discharged.
The driver continued through Cahir town and to Clonmel, with a further three accidents occurring because of the spillage. The driver's journey continued to Callan in Kilkenny, but the trail of diesel disappeared on the bypass.
A Garda spokesman in Clonmel said yesterday that no new information had come to light as a result of their appeals.
"We feel somebody must have seen something in relation to this tanker," he said. "We are still appealing to motorists who may have seen the driver on their travels to contact us on 052-77640."
The tanker had Northern Ireland or English registration plates but no other markings. It is believed the driver may have realised the tanker was leaking fuel in Callan and rectified the problem. Alternatively, all the fuel could have leaked out.