Five killed in separate weekend crashes

Five people have died in separate weekend crashes on the State’s roads

The latest fatality happened at 11am today when a motorcyclist in his 20s crashed into a tractor on the Listowel to Abbeyfeale road in Co Kerry.

A woman passenger, also in her 20s, was brought to Kerry General Hospital, while the driver of the tractor was uninjured.

Earlier a 23-year-old woman lost control of the car she was driving and crashed at Kilmacomma, Clonmel, Co Tipperary at around 3.45am.

Gardai said she was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was brought to South Tipperary General Hospital.

There were no other vehicles involved and gardai have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Tragedy struck at the Annual Across Ireland Motorcycle Run for the Make a Wish Foundation yesterday afternoon when two bikes collided at Clonaglin, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, gardai said.

A 35-year-old Polish national died in the incident while the second motorcyclist was also injured, although not seriously.

With over 700 participants the event is one of the largest of its kind in the country and last year raised over 143,000 euro for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Participants travel from Dublin to Galway and back again over the two-day event.

Separately a pedestrian was killed last night after she was knocked down by a car at Summerhill, Tramore at around 7.30pm.

Another motorcyclist lost his life late Friday night after a crash with a vehicle on the R417 at Stramillian, Monasterevin, Co Kildare at around 10.45pm.

The 24-year-old man was pronounced dead at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.

PA