A 15 YEAR OLD youth died yesterday when the stolen car he was travelling in struck a wall in Co Westmeath. A second passenger was injured while the driver was unhurt.
The car, a BMW, was stolen at 4 a.m. yesterday from Woodfarm Avenue, Palmerstown, Dublin, and reported missing.
It was seen by gardai in a patrol car from Sundrive Road Garda Station being driven dangerously. It was followed as far as Ardnamullen, Kinnegad, Co Westmeath, where, at 5.40 a.m., the driver lost control of the car on the wet road and it hit a wall. The wall collapsed.
The front seat passenger died instantly. The driver ran from the car across fields. A backseat passenger received minor injuries and was taken to hospital in Mullingar where he is said to be comfortable.
The dead youth was from Palmerstown, Dublin. The injured passenger is believed to be a 19 year old from Chapelizod, Dublin. Gardai are still seeking the driver.
The name of the dead youth was not released by the Garda at the request of his family. The name of the second passenger was also withheld.
A Garda spokesman said yesterday there were about 30 incidents a night in the greater Dublin area of cars been stolen.