Deaths on the roads since the start of the Easter weekend stood at 11 last night. The latest fatalities included a three-year-old Waterford boy who was struck by a lorry in Sligo on Sunday; a man and a woman who died after their car crashed on the Clontarf Road in Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning; and a man who died in a hit-and-run accident at Carraroe, Co Mayo, early yesterday morning.
Gardai said yesterday that 106 people had died in road accidents since the beginning of the year.
The Waterford boy was named as James Barrett. He was struck by a lorry while walking on a road near Ballinafad, Co Sligo, at 8.45 p.m. on Sunday. He and his family are believed to have been in Co Sligo for a family reunion. He was taken to Sligo General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The two people killed in the Clontarf Road crash were named as Mr Alan Kane (26), from Cabra, and Ms Michelle Bride (21), from Ballybough Road. A woman passenger in the car was in a critical condition in hospital last night.
Gardai said that five people were in the Fiat Bravo car, which lost control near Dollymount bridge after hitting a parked car. Another man is also in hospital, although gardai said his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. The fifth occupant is suffering from shock.
Following the deaths, Cllr Sean Kenny called on Dublin Corporation to immediately implement speed-reduction measures on the Clontarf Road. "There have been numerous fatal accidents caused by speeding on the Clontarf Road in the last 15 years", Mr Kenny said.
The body of a 36-year-old man was found just outside Carraroe at 3.25 a.m. yesterday morning. Gardai said he had been hit by a car which did not stop. He was found on the road by another motorist. The man had a local address, but may have been a visitor to the area, gardai said. His name was not being released yesterday evening.
An Indian doctor based at Letterkenny General Hospital died on Friday night when his car crashed in Ballintra, Co Donegal. No other car was involved in the incident in which Dr Kalai Kannan (31) died.
A Roscommon priest, Father Michael Langan (58), died after his car hit a wall at Fuerty on the Roscommon-Dunamon road on Saturday night. Mr Sean Cassidy (22), of Moyne, Co Longford, was also killed on Saturday when the car he was driving crashed. No other vehicle was involved.
Five cars were involved in a pile-up on the Swords Road in Dublin yesterday afternoon. Four people were taken to hospital, but gardai said no one was seriously injured. The incident caused major disruption on the main Dublin-Belfast road at Swords.
AA Roadwatch said yesterday that there had been "bedlam" at Fairyhouse, with three-mile tailbacks at the course where the Irish Grand National was being run. There were traffic delays also at Kinnegad, Co Westmeath, with tailbacks of between two and three miles on the Galway side of the town.
AA Roadwatch has warned that icy conditions can be expected again this morning and motorists have been urged to drive with extreme care.