A GERMAN couple were killed yesterday in north Mayo when their motorcycle collided with a car driven by a local family doctor.
The impact occurred about 12.20pm at a spot known locally as Massey’s Bend, Lacken Cross, on the Killala to Ballycastle road.
The male biker died at the scene. His pillion passenger died in an ambulance en route to Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.
Both victims are believed to be in their early 50s.
The driver of the car was Killala-based GP Dr Declan Clinton.
Dr Clinton was admitted to Mayo General Hospital but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The R3I4 road was closed following the crash as gardaí began forensic examinations of the scene.
Local man David Massey said that three ambulances, a fire brigade and gardaí attended at the scene and were helped out by locals.
Mr Massey said there had been a double fatality at the bend about 15 years ago but remedial works had been carried out on the stretch of road since then.
Lamenting the double tragedy, Jarlath Munnelly, a member of Mayo County Council, said last evening that the community was shocked by the deaths of the two tourists.
He also expressed sympathy with Dr Clinton and his family for the injuries and the trauma he had suffered.
Commenting on the spot where the collision occurred, Mr Munnelly said the bend had been regarded as a “blackspot” but had been improved recently, with the installation of signposting and rumble strips.