The family of a woman (67) who died in a hit and run by a driver in north Dublin were with her at the time and saw the incident.
The Irish Times understands that the dead woman, who has been named as Carol Seery, had just finished enjoying a meal with family members in Phibsboro, Dublin 7, when she was fatally struck by a car as she crossed the road at Cross Guns Bridge, shortly after 9pm on Wednesday. The car that struck Ms Seery, who was from Finglas and married to a retired garda, failed to remain at the scene.
The motorist had moments earlier been spotted driving dangerously in the Glasnevin-Phibsboro area and was being sought by gardaí at the time of the crash, at about 9.10pm. He had just begun speeding away from a Garda car when his car struck the victim on Cross Guns Bridge, Phibsboro Road.
After hitting the woman, the driver fled the crime scene in the vehicle and managed to evade gardaí. However, the car – a 07D Silver Honda Civic – has since been located by investigating gardaí after it was abandoned in Phibsboro, not far from the crash scene.
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The Irish Times understands the car had not been reported stolen. It had changed hands very recently and was still registered under the former owner’s name. However, gardaí have confirmed the car was sold and now the new owner, and perhaps people connected to him, are being sought for interview.
While gardaí and paramedics arrived at the scene, sources said it was clear that the woman was very badly injured and efforts to save her were not successful. She was pronounced dead at the scene and the road was sealed off for forensic examination.
The Honda Civic that has since been seized was also undergoing examination and gardaí are confident the vehicle is a very strong line of inquiry. A family liaison officer has been appointed to the family of the deceased woman.
The scene of the collision was preserved for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.The section of road from Cross Guns Bridge to the junction of Phibsboro Road and Connaught Street was also closed for a time and local diversions were put in place.
Gardaí in Mountjoy Garda station were continuing to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. They also want to hear from anyone who saw the 07 D silver Honda Civic in the Phibsboro, Dublin 7 area in the hours before the fatal collision to contact them.
The incident has been referred to An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc).
Emergency services and gardaí attended the scene of the incident on Wednesday night, where the woman was pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, a man in his 40s has died and a woman was seriously injured following a crash involving a van and a car in Co Tipperary. The collision occurred on the N24 near Kilsheelan at about 1.20pm on Thursday.
The driver of the van, a man in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A woman in her 40s who was driving the car involved in the collision was seriously injured and taken to University Hospital Waterford.
The Garda has issued an appeal for any witnesses to contact investigating gardaí in Clonmel.
And in Co Limerick, a man in his 70s died following a collision on the N69 Glin to Tarbert Road on Wednesday evening. The collision, which involved a car and a pedestrian, happened around 10pm.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was removed to University Hospital Limerick for postmortem.
Gardaí in Newcastle Garda station are appealing for information.
