Road Death Toll Hits Six

It has been a grim night on the roads of Ireland.

A man was killed in a road accident on the Shore Road in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim early this morning and four young women were fatally injured in the west of Ireland.

On top of the death of a man in Co Longford yesterday afternoon, it brings Irish fatalities to six in less than 24-hours.

The Co Antrim crash happened shortly after 2am on Wednesday near the entrance to Belfast High School.

The man was travelling in a car along with two other people when it was in collision with a Tesco lorry.

The other people have been taken to hospital where one is said to be in a serious condition, while the other is said to be stable.

Police said the Shore Road would be closed for most of the morning.

Yesterday, Gardaí were investigating a two-vehicle fatal road traffic collision, which occurred shortly after 2.30pm at Agharra, Co Longford.

Officers said that a 31-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene when the car in which he was the sole occupant was involved in a collision with a 4 x 4.

The driver of the 4 x 4 was taken to Mullingar Hospital and the road between Ratharney and Ballynacargy was closed overnight.

Then, multiple tragedies struck, when, at approximately 7.30pm yesterday evening, Gardaí were called to a collision involving a car and a lorry on the N17 between Milltown and Ballandine, Co Galway.

A spokesman said: "There were five female occupants travelling in the car, all believed to be aged in their 20s.

"Three were pronounced dead at the scene and a fourth female was pronounced dead on arrival at Mayo General Hospital.

"A fifth female is currently in Mayo General Hospital where her condition is described as critical."

The officer said that the driver of the truck was also taken to hospital. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Reports indicate that the stretch of road is notorious, with at least one other person being killed in an accident during the last year.

Road conditions were described as horrendous, with torrential rain, thunderstorms and very slippery conditions.

A local journalist said this morning that the car collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle while on a bad bend.

Forensic Collision Investigators have been notified and the scene of the accident remains closed and traffic diversions are currently in place.

(BMcC/KMcA)