Fine Gael Presidential candidate, Ms Mary Banotti MEP, narrowly escaped injury yesterday in a car accident in which an elderly woman died. The Banotti campaign team, travelling in three vehicles, was on its way to Clonmel when two of their cars were involved in a collision with another vehicle.
The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon at Moorstown about six miles from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, on the main Cahir-Clonmel road. The woman who died is Mrs Bride Fenton, from Church Street, Cahir, Co Tipperary. Her husband, Patrick, is in a serious condition. They are both in their mid70s.
According to witnesses, a vehicle drifted from its lane and glanced off the second car in the Banotti convoy, a Rover 620, in which Ms Banotti and three other members of her team were travelling. "He seemed to just drift across the road," said Mr Sean Lynch, the driver of the Rover. "Luckily enough, I got into the side of the road, but it went straight into the other car behind.
"Our driver could do nothing," said Ms Anne Hennon, a member of the campaign team who was travelling with Ms Banotti. The vehicle struck the third Banotti car, a Mitsubishi Space Wagon, head-on, injuring its occupants, campaign worker, Ms Laura Fryday, and the driver, Mr Mick Byrnes. The woman who was travelling in the passenger seat of the vehicle which collided with the Banotti cars died at the scene.
Ms Fryday and Mr Lynch were taken to hospital in Cashel. Mr Lynch's injuries were not described as serious but Ms Fryday was detained overnight. Last night, the driver of the local car was in a serious condition.
Ms Banotti said she was "very shocked and saddened" by the accident and extended her sympathies to the bereaved family.