Tributes paid to young Irish student killed in traffic collision in Netherlands

Tributes have been paid to a young Irish student who was killed when she was hit by a motorist in the Dutch city of Utrecht where she was studying as part of an Erasmus exchange programme.

Aoife O'Connell (21) from Lindville in Ballintemple on Cork's southside was fatally injured when she was struck by a motorist on Biltsestraatweg in Utrecht in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The motorist did not stop following the collision but later handed himself into a local police station for questioning about the fatal crash, local media reported in Utrecht over the weekend.

The late Ms O’Connell was a Third Year BA (Economics) International Pathway student at UCC and she was on an Erasmus Exchange Programme at the HU University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht.

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UCC issued a statement following Ms O’Connell’s death where the university expressed its sympathies and said it was offering support to Ms O’Connell’s family and friends.

‘Kind and popular person’

"UCC wishes to extend its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Aoife O'Connell, who sadly passed away in the Netherlands at the weekend," said UCC in its statement.

Fine Gael Cllr Des Cahill from Ballintemple said the local community was in shock at the news of the tragedy and people's thoughts were with Ms O'Connell's parents, John and Deirdre and sister, Claire.

“The whole neighbourhood is extremely upset by this shocking news. Our thoughts and prayers are with Aoife’s friends and family and I would ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this time.”

Meanwhile a classmate of Ms O'Connell's in Utrecht, Amelie Brun told The Irish Mirror how upset people were at the death of Ms O'Connell whom she described as "a kind and popular person".

“I feel very sad about what happened to her. Aoife was a kind, happy and really funny person. She was always positive, and brought joy for everyone around her. We had so much fun in Utrecht together.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the department is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance to the O’ Connell family who are understood to have travelled to Utrecht.