Four die in separate road incidents around island

Four people have died in road traffic incidents North and South of the Border in the last 24 hours.

A Sligo County Council worker has died and three other people have been seriously injured after being hit by a truck while working on the N4 between Ballinafad and Castlebaldwin.

The man was part of a group carrying out verge maintenance work when it is believed he was struck by an articulated lorry, the Health and Safety Authority said.

The man who died was in his 60s. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body removed to Sligo Regional Hospital.

A man in his 50s was also airlifted to University Collage Hospital Galway, and two other males were taken to Sligo Regional Hospital with injuries described as non life-threatening, gardaí said.

Gardaí in Ballymote are investigating the incident, which occured about one mile South of Castlebaldwin. The collision occurred at about 11.40am.

The stretch of road was closed to facilitate an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators, and local diversions were in place.

The diversions were expected to remain in place until later in the evening.

Gardaí at Ballymote are appealing for witnesses to contact them at 071 9189500.

Meanwhile, the PSNI is appealing for a lorry driver to contact them following the death of a pedestrian in Ballynahinch, Co Down.

Police confirmed on Thursday afternoon that a man died after he was struck by a lorry on Windmill Street shortly before 11am.

Officers believe the lorry driver may not be aware of their involvement in a collision. The lorry is described as a six-wheel tipper lorry with a blue/brown cab.

It was loaded with rubble or vegetables.

It has “Miskelly Brothers Ltd” branding on the front of the cab, although the vehicle is no longer owned by the company.

A police spokesman said the lorry travelled through the centre of Ballynahinch and left the town along Dromore Street.

The driver or anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.

Elsewhere, a motorcyclist has died after a crash on the N81 near Blessington, Co Wicklow, on Wednesday night.

Gardaí are investigating the incident, which occurred at Poulaphuca at about 9.15pm.

The 33-year-old man was fatally injured when he and a second motorcyclist collided with an SUV.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and removed to Naas General Hospital, where a postmortem will take place.

The second motorcyclist, also male, was removed to the same hospital with serious injuries. The female SUV driver was taken to Tallaght Hospital with minor injuries.

The scene has been preserved and Garda forensic collision investigators will carry out an investigation of the area. Diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone who was travelling on the N81 on Wednesday night to contact them at Baltinglass Garda station on 059-6482610, the Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any Garda station.

Separately in Co Wicklow, a man in his 40s died after falling from a horse-drawn cart.

The incident occurred on Red Lane, Calary, Kilmacanogue at about 8.15pm on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old man was removed by ambulance to St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin 4, where he later died. There was no other persons on the cart at the time.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone who was travelling on Red Lane, Calary (the road from Sugarloaf car park towards the N11) on the evening of August 12th to contact them at Bray Garda Station on 01 - 6665300.