Eleven more people have died on the roads so far this year than in the first three months of 1998. Preliminary Garda figures indicate that 97 people have been killed in road accidents in 1999, compared to 86 for January, February and March last year. Included are five fatalities which occurred over the weekend.
Mr Robert McNeill (51), from Annesley Park, North Strand, Dublin, is believed to have been killed on impact when his 40-foot articulated truck carrying timber plunged 30 feet through a parapet at Kyle Bridge, a mile from Kildare town, on to the railway line below. The accident happened at 12.30 p.m. on Saturday.
All trains leaving Heuston station in Dublin were suspended and traffic through Kyle Bridge was diverted via Kildangan until 9 p.m. on Saturday while a crane removed the truck.
Iarnod Eireann spokeswoman said services had been back to normal since late on Saturday night.
In Co Louth, gardai have appealed for witnesses to a fatal hit-and-run accident in Dundalk. The body of Mr Thomas McDonald (19), from Lower Rath, Carlingford, was found on the side of the main Dublin-Belfast road just before 6 a.m. yesterday.
The accident happened near the Racecourse Road, on the Dundalk inner relief road, which forms part of the main road to Belfast. The area was sealed off and traffic was diverted along the old Newry Road. Gardai believe he may have been hitching a lift home when a car travelling northwards ran him over. He was pronounced dead at Louth County Hospital, Dundalk. Anyone with information on the accident is asked to contact Dundalk Garda station at 042933 2839.
Mr James Harkin (45), from Glenties, Co Donegal, died at Turashill, Mountcharles, Co Donegal, when he was struck by a car at 5.15 a.m. yesterday.
Mr Gavin Markey, who was in his 20s, from Lohunda Park, in Clonsilla, Co Dublin, was killed and two other people were injured at Clonsilla at 5.30 a.m. yesterday when the car in which they were travelling hit a tree at Shilleran Road.
The injured are understood to be in a serious condition at the James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown.
Gardai are investigating an accident in which a man died at Clonshanny, Clara, Co Offaly, yesterday.
It happened about midday when a car, driven by a man in his 70s, left the road and crashed into a field. He died at Tullamore hospital.
