Two men killed in separate road crashes in Kerry and Cork

Two men have died in road crashes in counties Kerry and Cork, bringing the total number of fatalities on the State’s roads so far this year to 63.

The number of road deaths so far this year is running some 25 per cent higher than at the same point in 2023, which was the deadliest year on Ireland’s roads for some time.

A man in his 20s died when the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on the N69 at Banemore, Listowel, Co Kerry at about 9pm on Wednesday. He sustained serious injuries in the crash and died at University Hospital Kerry on Thursday afternoon.

Three others involved in the incident were also treated in hospital but their injuries are not life-threatening.

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Gardaí appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident or who was on the N69 between Listowel and Tralee between 8.30pm to 9.15pm on Wednesday to come forward.

Meanwhile, another man died in a two-vehicle collision on the N25 near Midleton in east Cork early on Thursday.

The man, aged in his early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene following a crash involving a car and a truck at Ballyedekin between Midleton and Castlemartyr at around 7.30am.

It is believed that car and the truck were travelling in the same direction when the collision happened.

Anyone who was travelling on the N25 at Loughaderra at the time who may have witnessed the collision or have dash cam footage is asked to contact Midleton Garda station.

The fatality is the second to happen in the Midleton area in the space of the week. A pedestrian died after being struck by a car on the N25 in the early hours of Sunday. Father-of-three, John Barry (47) from Bridevalley View in Fairhill, Cork City was fatally injured in the incident at Waterrock between Midleton and Carrigtwohill at 1.30am on Sunday.

Mr Barry had been attending a wedding at the Midleton Park Hotel earlier in the night but had left the hotel and was walking along the westbound section of the dual carriageway when he was struck.

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