16/11/2009

'Drunk' Driver Kills Woman

A woman was killed and a man seriously injured after a suspected drunk driver mounted a footpath and ploughed into a group of people at the weekend.

The crash happened just hours before events kicked off around the country to remember the victims of road traffic accidents.

Five people were outside Kavanagh’s Pub, along the Malahide Road in north Dublin, at about 2.15am on Sunday when the vehicle hurtled towards them.

Four were taken to the Mater Hospital where a 53-year-old woman died from her injuries.

A man in his 30s was in a serious condition in the hospital, while the two others are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

Gardaí said the driver, also aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene for drunk driving and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

It is understood he has since been discharged.

The scene was closed to traffic to allow crash investigators to carry out an examination and officers have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Some 205 people have died on the country's roads so far this year, down around 20 on the same period in 2008.

Up to Friday more than 22,640 people have been killed on Ireland's roads since records began in 1959.

A Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims was first initiated by RoadPeace, the UK national charity for road victims.

Following the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly in October 2005, the third Sunday in November of every year is now recognised as the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

(BMcC/GK)

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