Man killed and another fighting for his life after three-car crash
AN ELDERLY man was killed and a man in his 20s was fighting for his life last night following a horrific three-car crash in Co Tipperary.
The man in his 70s was named locally yesterday as Patrick Holland, from Cappoquin, Co Waterford.
He was a front-seat passenger in one car and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A male driver in his 30s was arrested at the scene of the accident and remained in custody last night.
It happened on the Clonmel to Kilkenny road at a townland near Grangemockler at South Lodge, Carrick-on-Suir in Co Tipperary.
The tragedy occurred shortly before 7am yesterday. The Irish Independent understands that one of the cars crossed the central line in the road at about 6.50am.
It is believed it then collided head-on with an oncoming car in which Mr Holland was travelling.
Meanwhile, a man in his 20s who was a rear-seat passenger of the car believed to have crossed on to the wrong side of the road was rushed to St Luke’s General Hospital in nearby Kilkenny.
He is understood to have been in a critical condition last night.
The man who was arrested was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 which means he can be questioned for up to 24 hours.
No one in the third car that was involved in the accident was seriously injured.
Garda forensic collision investigators examined the site of the crash while the road was closed and diversions were in place for a time.
One of the cars overturned with the force of the collision, while a Toyota Yaris with a Cork registration was left almost on its side.
Fr Pat Gear, the parish priest of St Mary’s Church in Cappoquin, said he heard the tragic news about Mr Holland’s death when he was at the local supermarket yesterday and a local woman spoke of the tragedy.
Fr Gear said he did not know Mr Holland personally but his death has come as a shock to the close-knit community.
“It’s a small town,” he told the Irish Independent last night.
“People are shocked when we hear such tragic news,” he said.
“We’re all startled by it, that’s dreadful news.”
Gardaí at Clonmel are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.
They are also appealing for any road users who may have camera footage who were travelling in the area at the time to make this footage available to gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Clonmel garda station on 052 617 7640, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.