Motorcyclist killed in collision with car in Galway

A 52-year-old motorcyclist was killed when he was involved in a collision with a car in Galway on Wednesday night, bringing to nine the number killed on Irish roads since December 23rd.

Gardaí in Galway are investigating the crash, on the N17 at Polkeen, Castlegar, at about 9.45pm.

The injured man was brought to University Hospital Galway after the collision, but was pronounced dead there. The driver of the car was uninjured.

Witnesses are asked to contact Galway Garda station on 091-538000, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

The motorcyclist’s death brings the number of road fatalities so far this year to 165 - 30 fewer than over the same period in 2014.

However, the number of fatalities on Irish roads this month has made it one of the worst Decembers on record.

Two-car crash

Earlier this week a teenager was killed in a two-car crash in Co Offaly. The 19-year-old was the driver of one of the cars in the collision at 1.30pm on the R420 Tullamore to Portarlington Road at Geashill.

A passenger in the teenager’s car was injured and taken by ambulance to the Midland Regional Hospital.

The driver of the other car was also injured and taken to hospital. Gardaí at Tullamore Garda station have appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact them on 057-9327600 or via the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111.

Road safety organisation Parc has called on all political parties to sign a pre-election commitment to reduce deaths and prevent injuries on the roads.

Among the pledges they are seeking from election hopefuls is a commitment to enact legislation to stop drivers avoiding penalty points by claiming in court that they did not receive a fixed charge notice; the creation of a single database for driver and vehicles information; all driving licence numbers to be recorded where a driver is convicted of penalty point offences or disqualified by the courts; an end to the use of the court poor box for penalty point offences; and a crackdown on disqualified drivers who continue to drive.