FOUR PEOPLE died in road and rail incidents at the weekend.
A 23-month-old girl and a 60-year-old man died in separate incidents on northern roads on Saturday. In the Republic, a woman in her 80s died following a crash in Clough, Co Kildare, and a teenager died after being struck by a train in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
The girl of just under two years died after she was hit by a 4x4 vehicle in the village of Clough, Co Down. She was struck on the Blackstaff Road shortly after 5pm on Saturday. A woman pedestrian was also injured and is being treated for whiplash injuries and a suspected fracture. The driver of the vehicle was treated for whiplash and shock. Police believe the woman was with the child who was fatally injured.
The village lies at the intersection of two busy roads in the area – the road from Newcastle to Belfast, and the main Downpatrick to Dublin road via Newry.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident, and have appealed for information.
Only hours earlier on Saturday, a man died after the car he was driving was in collision with another vehicle near Gilford on the border between Co Down and Co Armagh. It is thought the dead man may have become ill at the wheel of his vehicle.
The deaths bring the total for the year to date in the North to 26. Police statistics show that 115 died on northern roads during 2009.
Down District Council chairman Eamonn O’Neill said: “This is a truly tragic time for the local community. I can only express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the family and friends.
“Unfortunately, the issue of road safety in and around Clough was brought up at the local District Policing Partnership meeting on Thursday night, and it is terrible that this has now happened.
“On behalf of the community I offer my deepest condolences, and know that the people of Clough and the wider community will help and support the family at this, their worst time.”
In Clane village, Co Kildare, on Saturday morning, a woman in her 80s was seriously injured when she was struck by an articulated lorry. She was taken by ambulance to Naas General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The driver of the lorry, a male aged in his 30s, was taken by ambulance to hospital suffering from shock.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the fatal incident.
Meanwhile, a teenager died on Saturday afternoon after being struck by a train in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Eddie Shoer (18), from St Joseph’s Park in the town, was killed after being struck by the Limerick to Ballybrophy train at 5.50pm. The incident occurred about a mile on the Cloughjordan side of Nenagh railway station.
Emergency services went to the scene but efforts to resuscitate the teenager failed. He was pronounced dead at the Mid-West Regional Hospital in Limerick.
Insp Bernard Barry from Nenagh Garda station confirmed Mr Shoer was with a number of friends who were walking along the railways tracks on the outskirts of the town when the incident occurred. He confirmed gardaí are treating the incident as a “tragic accident”.