A TEENAGER was killed when the stolen taxi in which he was travelling crashed in Co Meath early yesterday.
Gardaí said the car had been stolen from a taxi driver who had been threatened at knifepoint some 40 minutes earlier.
The crash claimed the life of Bernard McDonagh (16), from Inchicore, Dublin, who was one of two males in the car. The other, an 18-year-old, remained critically ill in hospital last night with life-threatening injuries.
Gardaí had yet to establish last night who was driving.
Initial indications are that the taxi, a Toyota Avensis, went out of control as it travelled north of Slane on the N2, the main Dublin-to-Derry road, and struck a Renault Caddy van in what a garda described as “a glancing blow”.
In the Renault was a couple in their 20s who were also taken to hospital but did not have serious injuries.
The crash occurred at about 12.10am after the taxi was hijacked in the Kilmainham area of Dublin.
The taxi driver got out after the knife was produced. Gardaí are trying to track the car’s movements before the crash.
Garda Supt Michael Devine, who is leading the inquiry, said yesterday: “This car was registration number 08 D 27067, and we would like to hear from anyone who saw it anywhere between Dublin and Slane.”
The silver/grey Avensis was being driven north, towards Collon. The crash happened at Glassallen hill, about 5km (three miles) north of Slane. Preliminary indications are that, after it struck the van, the car crashed into a tree and both occupants were thrown from it.
Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí in Navan on 046-9036100.