Driver, 25, dies in ‘pursuit’ with gardaí
A MAN has died, and two teenage passengers left seriously injured, after he appeared to lose control of a car while fleeing gardaí.
Danny Barnes, 25, was killed when the car he was driving hit a barrier outside a school at Whitemill Road in Wexford town at around 12.30am yesterday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The passengers in the vehicle, two brothers aged 13 and 15, sustained serious injuries in the crash.
The brothers, from Co. Wexford, were rushed to Wexford General Hospital where they remain in a serious condition.
The Mail understands that local gardaí noticed the car Barnes was driving – a silver Volkswagen Bora – ‘acting suspiciously’ on John Street in the town shortly before the fatal crash.
A patrol car performed a U-turn on the road and was making its way back to investigate when Barnes sped off.
The father-of-two has convictions for the sale and supply of drugs as well as the cultivation of cannabis in 2011 in Co. Wexford.
He also has two other convictions from 2012 for the unlawful possession of drugs.
He appears to have ‘panicked’ when the patrol car came towards him and fled, sources say. Gardaí then pursued the car and, seconds later, before gardaí put on the vehicle’s siren, the car Barnes was driving crashed into a barrier outside a school on Whitemill Road.
Security sources say it was a ‘short pursuit’ and ‘not a chase’.
As a consequence of gardaí being potentially involved in the incident, it has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.
This protocol is followed as there may have been some interaction with Garda members shortly before the fatal crash.
The road was yesterday closed for a forensic examination and local diversions were in place.
Gardaí said in a statement: ‘Gardaí in Wexford are investigating a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision that occurred on Whitemill Road.
‘A male in his 20s was fatally injured when the car he was driving lost control and collided with a barrier.
‘He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body taken to Wexford Hospital. Two male passengers were also taken to Wexford Hospital with injuries described as serious.’
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.