Two elderly people have been killed on the State's roads in separate crashes today, bringing the total in the first days of the new year to three.
A woman was killed in a three-car collision in north Dublin. The victim, in her 80s, died in Beaumont Hospital following the car crash on the Coast Road at High Rock, Malahide, at 9.45am.
A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of The Criminal Justice Act. He is being questioned at Malahide Garda station where he can be held initially for six hours, and up to 24 hours if an extension is required. No-one else was injured in the collision.
The Coast Road between Portmarnock and Malahide is currently closed to traffic pending an investigation, the Garda said.
In the second fatal crash today, a pedestrian in his 70s was struck while crossing the Ardee to Kells road approx 0.3km from Ardee town. The man's remains were removed to the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
Gardaí appealed for witnesses to the fatal collision, which happened shortly after 11am.
They are especially interested in talking to the driver of an articulated lorry (silver in colour) registered in Northern Ireland, as they believe he may be able to assist the investigation, a Garda statement said.
Anyone with information is asked to ring Ardee Garda station at 041 6853222.
Paul McGann (18) from Theur, Riverstown, Sligo, became the first person killed on the State's roads just hours into 2007 when he was hit by a car.
A total of 367 people died on Ireland's roads in 2006, 29 fewer than in 2005.
Half of all those killed were under 30, one third were in their 20s, and more than 70 per cent were men. Among the dead were 171 drivers, 73 pedestrians, 82 passengers, 29 motorcyclists, and 10 cyclists.