A motorcyclist yesterday became the 271st person to die on the roads this year when he was killed in a collision with a car on the main Cork-Macroom road yesterday morning.
Martin Kersey (39), from Moulnahorna, Carriganima near Macroom, Co Cork, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at Currahaly, Farran, about 6.4 km (four miles) from Ballincollig at about 7.30 yesterday morning.
Mr Kersey, a married man with family, was travelling from Macroom towards Cork city where he worked with an engineering company when he was involved in a collision with an Opel Corsa travelling in the same direction.
Fire brigade units from Macroom and Ballincollig attended the accident and helped remove the occupants of the car, a 19-year-old man who was driving the vehicle and his 17-year-old passenger.
The two teenagers - who are from the Crookstown area - were taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment but it is understood that their injuries are not life-threatening.
Gardaí from Crookstown, Macroom and Ballincollig also attended the scene of the accident.
The road remained closed for a number of hours as Garda technical experts carried out an examination of the scene before removing the car and bike for technical examination.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the accident or the lead-up to it to contact them at Macroom station on 026-20590 or Crookstown station on 021-733 6002 or any Garda station.
Mr Kersey is the second person to die on the Cork-Macroom road in the space of two months. On August 8th cyclist John Quinlan, from Coolroe Meadows, Ballincollig, was killed. Mr Quinlan (30) was cycling towards Ballincollig at about 8pm on the night in question when he was involved in a collision with a car at Farran Cross about 1.6 km (one mile) from the scene of yesterday's accident.
