Three killed in separate crashes

Three young people were killed in separate road crashes in Louth, Cork and Meath on Monday evening. This brings the total number of road deaths so far this year to 17.

A young woman died in a three-car collision on the Glanmire bypass, near the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Cork, just after 6.30pm on Monday. The woman has been named as Sian Roberts (19), Kilbarry, Fermoy, Co Cork.

Ms Roberts was the driver of a green Ford Ka. A person from another car was treated in hospital for minor injuries. The road was closed until yesterday afternoon while gardaí were examining the scene.

A 23-year-old man died when the car he was driving collided with a petrol tanker at the Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, at about 7.30pm on Monday.

The man is understood to have been from Romania but was living locally. An ambulance took him to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where he died from his injuries.

A man died at Bruckless, Co Donegal, when his car struck a pole just after 4pm on Monday. The driver was alone in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no other vehicle involved in the crash.

He was named locally as Kieran Herrity (28), of Palmerstown, Dublin, formerly of Gortahork, Co Donegal.

Reacting to the road deaths yesterday, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey said: "Figures this month are slightly higher than this month last year, which is of concern. All we can keep trying to do is reiterate to people to drive carefully, observe normal courtesies on the road and belt up."

According to Brian Farrell of the Road Safety Authority, there have been four more deaths so far this month than this time last year.

Twenty-two people died on the roads in January 2007, making it the safest month of last year.