Crash victim is 200th person to die on roads in 2006

A man in his late teens has become the 200th person to die on the State's roads.

The man died in an early morning crash near Thurles, Co Tipperary, when his car hit a wall at Lanespark, Ballynonty at 5.30am.

The dead man, who has not been named, was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital.

Gardaí have appealed to any witnesses to the crash to contact Thurles Garda station on 0504 25100.

So far this year 200 people have died on the State's roads, compared to 182 this time last year.

Fine Gael's road safety spokesman Shane McEntee said the country has reached a "gruesome benchmark"

"The Government is concentrating its efforts on the new Road Traffic Bill making its way through the Dáil. Although the Bill is welcome and does contain some useful measures, it needs to be backed up by proper enforcement on the roads," he said.

"At the moment that is clearly not happening."