Limerick crash: College staff and students 'numb' after two young men die

THE STUDENTS at Salesian Agricultural College, Pallaskenry, are “numb” following the death of two classmates in a road traffic collision in Limerick.

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a fatal crash on the N69 on Tuesday evening at approximately 7.25pm.

Two passengers, a man in his late teens and a man aged in his 20s were fatally injured in the incident.

“It’s tragic and it’s shocking. We’re numb here in the college this morning and their fellow students are numb,” said Derek O’Donoghue, principal of Salesian Agricultural College.

“It’s tragic, two young lives lost… It’s hard putting words on it, to be quite honest.

“We hear it every weekend… It’s only when it comes onto your own doorstep, that it really hits home and unfortunately, we lost two young lives last night,” Mr O’Donoghue added.

Independent councillor for the municipal district of Adare-Rathkeale, Emmett O’Brien said the incident is “absolutely devastating”.

“It’s a huge shock to the local community. I want to express my sincere condolences to the family of the bereaved,” Mr O’Brien said.

“It’s a terrible tragedy for life to be lost at such a young age.

“It’s a huge shock to all those in the college and all those who have daily encounters with the students, it’s terrible,” he added.

Former student at Salesian Agricultural College and cathaoirleach of the municipal district of Adare-Rathkeale, Adam Teskey, offered his sympathies to the families of the deceased.

“I also send my heartfelt thanks to the fire service, the ambulance service, the gardai, to any of the first responders who responded to the scene last night.

“This is difficult for all involved in the college. As a former student there, I know all too well that it accommodates and caters for a wide geographical area and obviously, this is going to have a serious effect on staff, teachers, fellow students and obviously the immediate families.

“This is a tragic day here in west Limerick this morning,” Mr Teskey added.

According to gardai the car collided with a wall.

There were four people involved in the single-vehicle road traffic collision.

“The driver and another passenger, both men aged in their late teens are receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries,” a garda spokesperson said.

The bodies of the deceased have been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem will take place in due course.

The fire service was alerted just after 7.30pm to the incident which occurred in the townland of Ballyengland Lower, around two kilometres outside Askeaton on the Limerick side of the town.

Gardaí, the National Ambulance Service and four units of the fire service responded - including two units each from Foynes and Rathkeale.

The road remains closed this Wednesday morning with local diversions in place.

A technical examination will be carried out by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and who were travelling in the area at the time, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Askeaton garda station 061 601630 or any garda station.