Gardai have launched an investigation after an elderly couple died in a horror road smash in Co Cork.
The couple, named locally as Patrick, 83, and Bernadette Allen, 82, were killed when their car was involved in a collision with a large car transporter in Carrigaline.
Officers were last night probing the theory that the smash happened when the car belonging to the couple — who lived in Carrigaline and were well known in the area — veered into the path of the car-carrying lorry just outside the town at around 11am.
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It’s believed officers suspect the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle and hit the lorry.
It’s understood debris from that smash crashed into another car — badly injuring its driver.
Gardai and emergency services were called to a collision involving a car transporter and three cars on the N28 at the Shannon Park roundabout in Carrigaline just after 11am yesterday, officers said.
Mr and Mrs Allen were pronounced dead at the scene. They have since been removed to the mortuary at Cork University Hospital.
A man who was driving a second car was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital. His injuries are not described as life-threatening.
The drivers of the transporter and third car involved in the collision were both medically assessed at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.
Garda Forensic Collision Investigators were last night examining the scene and vehicles involved.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to come forward. They are also appealing to road users who were travelling on the N28 in the Shannon Park area between 10:45 and 11am with camera footage (including dash cam), to make it available to them.
Anyone with information can contact Togher Garda Station on (021) 494 7120, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
A garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí in Togher are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision in County Cork, on Tuesday the 30th of August, 2022.
“At approximately 11am, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a collision involving a car transporter and three cars on the N28 at the Shannon Park roundabout in Carrigaline.
“The occupants of one of the cars, a man and woman both understood to be in their 80s, were pronounced dead at the scene at short time later. They have since been removed to the mortuary at Cork University Hospital.”
Sources in Cork last night said Mr and Mrs Allen were well respected in Carrigaline.
He was a former employee of the Pfizer plant in Ringaskiddy and she was a well-known golfer in previous years.
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