Weather linked to six deaths on roads

A change in weather conditions over the weekend may have contributed to the high number of fatal road accidents on Saturday, National Safety Council (NSC) chairman Eddie Shaw said.

Six people died in less than 24 hours, bringing the number killed on the roads so far this year to 216.

A Dublin woman was killed in a single-vehicle accident in Forgney, Ballymahon, Co Longford, at 8pm on Saturday. She was Eva Butler (28), River Valley Drive, Swords, Co Dublin.

An hour earlier, a motorcyclist died in a crash outside Gorey, Co Wexford. Mark Clare (22), Glenogue, Coolgreany, Co Wexford, was fatally injured when his motorcycle collided with a car at Monaseed Demesne near Gorey town. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to Wexford General Hospital.

On Saturday morning, a Co Mayo woman was killed and her husband seriously injured in a two-car collision near Balla, Castlebar. Julia Fitzgerald (70), Aisling Manor, Balla, was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by her husband when it collided with a second car at Pollavaddy on the main Balla to Claremorris road at about 8.45am.

Her husband was brought to Mayo General Hospital where his condition was said to be serious but stable last night. The female driver of the second car was released from hospital after treatment for her injuries on Saturday.

Two men were killed in separate accidents in Co Cork.

Thomas O'Brien (24), Clogheen Road, Kilroe, Kanturk, died in a two-car collision at Bettyville on the Mallow Road near Kanturk, Co Cork. The accident happened at 7.30am yesterday. Two other men were injured in the collision, one seriously.

Earlier, Christopher Hunt (33), Ardagh, Church Cross, Skibbereen, was killed in a single-car accident at Market Street, Skibbereen, at about 1.50am.

At Greystones, Co Wicklow, a man died when his car struck a pole on the Bray Road outside Greystones at about 1am. He has been named as Fran Mitchell (27), Sea View, Redford Park, Greystones.

The long dry spell followed by heavy rains made for extremely hazardous driving conditions over the weekend, Mr Shaw said.

"When there's a long dry spell, a film of grease builds up on the roads. When you get the rain that we've had, the roads become unusually slippy and dangerous."

The NSC was concerned by the high number of fatalities occurring in just one day and called on drivers to be more aware of the condition of the roads.

"It's not just an issue of staying within the legal speed limits, people need to drive at speeds appropriate to the weather and road conditions. The weather for driving this weekend has been atrocious."