Moving tribute from crash victim’s sister
A SISTER of Daryl Culbert, one of three friends who lost their lives in a single-car crash has revealed she ‘could not have asked for a better brother’.
Daryl Culbert, 21, from Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, died alongside friends, Michael Kelly, 25, from Nurney, Co. Carlow, and Katie Graham, 19, from Ballinagall, on the Carlow/Laois border.
The Lexus car they were travelling in skidded after heavy rain in Leagh, 5kms from Carlow town, on Wednesday night.
A fourth passenger in his 20s, Nathan Kelly, from Ballinabranagh, Co. Carlow, was seriously injured and taken to St Luke’s General Hospital, in Kilkenny.
He has since been transferred to a Dublin hospital, where his injuries are said to be non life-threatening.
The car was travelling towards Carlow town as it is understood the group were on their way to the Circle K garage in Rathcrogue, where other car enthusiasts sometimes meet.
The bodies of those who died were brought to University Hospital Waterford where postmortem examinations were carried out on Saturday.
Paying tribute to her brother Daryl, whose funeral takes place today, Chloe Culbert said: ‘[I] miss you so much Daryl. It will never be the same without you. I could have never asked for a better brother than you. Rest easy Daryl.’
Ms Graham was reposing at her home yesterday from 3pm until 8pm, where the Rosary was said at 7pm.
Removal will take place this morning to arrive at The Church of the Sacred Heart, Arles, for Requiem Mass at 11am, followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Mr Culbert’s remains will be arriving at St Peter’s Church, Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow, today, for his 2pm funeral service after which he will be laid to rest in the adjoining churchyard.
Mr Kelly, an electrician, who was predeceased by his father Michael, will be laid to rest alongside his grandparents in Hacketstown Cemetery, Co. Carlow, following his Requiem Mass on Tuesday in St Brigid’s Church, Hacketstown, at 1pm.
An online Book of Condolence has been set up on the Facebook page, It’s All About Carlow, for members of the public to leave their messages of sympathy, with hundreds of family, friends and neighbours already having left their own touching messages. Meanwhile, Garda Superintendent Anthony Farrell described the accident scene as one of the ‘most severe I’ve attended’ in his 25 years of service. He said of the scene: ‘It was really, really traumatic.’
The latest deaths bring the number killed on the roads since the start of the year to 19.
In a statement, gardaí said: ‘Road users who may have camera footage (including dashcam) and were travelling on the N80 at Leagh between 11:15pm and midnight are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.’ They added: Emergency services remain at the scene of the accident and gardaí are appealing for any information to contact Carlow Garda Station on 059-9136620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station’.
‘It will never be the same without you’