Woman dies following road collision in Co Waterford

A woman aged in her 70s has died following a road collision in Co Waterford.

The woman was fatally injured in the collision between a car and a truck at around 9.20am on Tuesday on the N25 at Garranbane, close to Dungarvan.

Gardai said the woman, who was driving the car, was treated by emergency services at the scene but died from her injuries.

“The driver of the truck (male) has been taken to Waterford University Hospital where he is receiving treatment for injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening,” they said.

“The road remains closed this at this time with an examination by Forensic Collision Investigators currently under way. Local diversions remain in place.”

Gardai have appealed for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.

There has been an strong political focus on the number of road deaths in Ireland due to an increase in fatalities, incidents of drink and drug driving and other road behaviours.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers, who had been a junior minister in the Department of Transport, conveyed his condolences and said this year had seen “a shocking continuation of the trend that we saw last year”.

“We passed important road safety legislation earlier on this year, some of which is commenced.

“There is an important body of work around the future of the Road Safety Authority and I’m certain that interim recommendations, which could be brought to government in the coming weeks, which are examining how the Road Safety Authority can be best placed to fulfil its remit for road safety in the future.”

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, a former Minister of Transport, added: “I appreciate how hugely important road safety is and I’m conscious of the further progress that we need to make.”