Student killed walking back home
A WOMAN walking home after a wedding celebration died when she was struck by a car early yesterday morning.
Tracey Melia, 24, was walking with a friend in Claregalway, Co. Galway, at about 12.30am when the accident happened.
Her friend, John McDonough, also 24, was struck as well but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
Local councillor Frank Kearney said the accident was a ‘huge tragedy’ and added that it highlighted the need for better transport services in rural Ireland.
Ms Melia, from Corrandulla, Co. Galway, was walking home alongside Mr McDonough following an after-wedding celebration at a local pub when a passing car collided with them at Augcloggeen, Headford. Emergency medi- cal attention was summoned immediately but Ms Melia suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her body was taken to University College Hospital Galway for a post-mortem. Mr McDonough, from Kingston, Galway city, was taken by ambulance to University College Hospital Galway. The driver of the car, also understood to be from the area, was uninjured but suffered from shock.
Councillor Kearney said: ‘ It’s an absolutely tragic accident. This is just a huge tragedy for the family and indeed to the wider community.
‘Our sympathies go to the family, and all the friends and people who would have been enjoying themselves Saturday night.’
Mr Kearney said more infrastructure and services were needed in rural Ireland so that such pedestrian road deaths are averted.
He said: ‘ There certainly has been a huge amount of accidents of pedestrians walking home from festivities late at night in rural Ireland. A lot of those people would be planning on getting a lift home, getting a taxi or something – but there isn’t enough of that type of service in rural Ireland.
‘I would certainly like to see the Government introduce some type of legislation or some type of system so that late-night buses might be provided or something l i ke that, at weekends. Such things like that could prevent human tragedies.’
Ms Melia was the eldest of two daughters of Hugh and Patricia Melia. She is survived by her younger sister, Caitríona. She was an arts graduate of NUI Galway and was doing further study.
The accident happened on a road just off the Galway to Tuam route. It links the N17 with the Galway to Headford road and was closed so Garda forensic collision experts could investigate.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the accident or anyone with information to contact officers at Galway’s Mill Street garda station on 091 538000.