A MAN was killed and two other people seriously injured when a car crashed on a motorway early yesterday.
The vehicle was travelling on the northbound carriageway of the M9 near Ballytore, Co Kildare, when the accident happened at about 2.45am.
One man in the car was killed, while another man and woman also in the vehicle were taken to Naas General Hospital with serious injuries. All are in their 30s.
Gardaí said there were no other cars involved. The road was closed to allow crash scene investigators carry out an examination.
Kildare County Council’s road safety officer Declan Keogh described the collision as tragic.
Speaking generally about road deaths, he said young people sometimes felt they were invincible on the roads.
“This was a tragic collision which has resulted in the loss of a young life, and left two others fighting for theirs.
“It is always sad to hear of a fatal collision, particularly when it involves young people, because young people feel they are invincible, indestructible and free from pain while on the roads.
“Young men and women have their whole lives ahead of them, and in a split second, that’s all taken away from them, and that second can last forever for many families and friends.”
According to the Road Safety Authority, Ireland is now ranked the 10th safest country out of 27 countries worldwide, with 6.3 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants in 2008.