Gardaí have confirmed that a motorist who was reported to be in a critical condition following a road traffic incident near Ennis on Monday, has died in hospital.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “The male driver of the vehicle, aged in his 40s, was taken to University Hospital Limerick where he later passed away. The coroner has been notified. The N85 Ennis Bypass has since reopened to traffic.”
The alarm was raised shortly after 12.30pm on Monday when emergency services received reports of a collision on the N85 Western Relief Road near Ennis. The route connects the M18 motorway with roads to West and North Clare.
It’s understood that a vehicle was seen colliding with a roadside barrier at least once before coming to a stop on the footpath. A motorist travelling the road at the time stopped and quickly ran to the driver’s aid however the man was found in a collapsed state.
It’s believed that the motorist dragged the unconscious driver from his vehicle and began to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the roadway. A second passing motorist stopped and also assisted with CPR until ambulance paramedics arrived.
National Ambulance Service paramedics and units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station attended the scene along with several Garda units.
Further efforts to resuscitate the driver were carried out by ambulance paramedics before the critically ill man was rushed by to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
The road was closed to traffic while a preliminary examination of the scene was carried out. It’s believed that the driver may have suffered a medical episode before the collision.
Meanwhile, a man is reported to be in a serious condition in hospital after he was struck by a car on the N18 in Clare early on Saturday morning.
The incident occurred at around 4.15am in the northbound lanes of the dual-carriageway at junction 5 near Cratloe.
Gardaí and National Ambulance Service paramedics responded to the incident along with Clare County Fire and Rescue Service crews from Shannon and Ennis stations.
The man was struck close to the flyover near Portdrine while the car came to a stop about 100 metres away. It’s understood the driver of the car was not seriously hurt but was left shaken.
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.