Road deaths this year reach 86

A total of seven men were killed on the State's roads over the weekend, including the three young men killed in Co Kerry.

The deaths bring to 86 the number of people killed in road crashes so far this year. This compares with 98 people killed during the first three months of 2006.

On Saturday, a Polish man named by gardaí as Pawel Urbanowicz (31), was killed when the tractor he was driving overturned and hit a wall at Ballynoe, Castletown, Kilmallock, Co Limerick.

The incident happened at about 3.40pm. Mr Urbanowicz had been living in Tipperary town.

Shortly before 10pm on Saturday, a 26-year-old man was fatally injured when the car he was driving was in collision with another vehicle at Lismalin, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary. Gardaí had not named him last night. The driver of the other vehicle was not seriously injured.

At about 4.45pm yesterday, a man in his 20s died when his motorbike was in collision with a lorry on the N16 at Cornastauk, near Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim. He was removed to Our Lady's Hospital in Manorhamilton. Gardaí were last night trying to contact relatives of the man, who is believed to be a foreign national.

Shortly before 6pm yesterday, another male motorcyclist was killed when his bike collided with a tractor on the R198 at Lisnamandra, Crossdoney, Co Cavan.

Gardaí in Cavan town are investigating the circumstances of the crash and the road was closed for a number of hours last night.

Also yesterday, four cars were involved in a pile-up near Headford, Co Galway.

One woman was taken to hospital for observation but gardaí said nobody appeared to have been injured.

In Cork, a woman in her 30s was rescued after her car went into the River Lee at Monkstown, at about 3.30pm yesterday. She was taken to Cork University Hospital suffering from minor injuries.

Noel Brett of the Road Safety Authority expressed regret at the loss of lives yesterday.

Spokesman for the authority Brian Farrell later said the deaths were "unfortunately in line with experience", as six out of 10 road deaths occur at the weekend.