Teen dies and five others injured in crash after stolen car travels on wrong side of motorway in Cork
A 16-YEAR-OLD has died after a stolen car he was a passenger in collided with another car after travelling on the wrong side of a motorway early this morning.
A female driver, aged in her 30s, was seriously injured when her car was struck head-on shortly after 1am on the Cork to Dublin[1] M8 motorway.
1
The injured were taken to Cork University HospitalCredit: Alamy
The teen’s four pals were also injured in the collision which happened at Ballybeg near Mitchelstown, Co Cork[2].
Gardai[3] and the Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) are investigating the fatal crash as the car carrying the five youths was involved in an interaction with Gardai earlier.
The matter has been referred to GSOC under Section 102 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.
It is understood the teenagers were travelling in a stolen car, which was taken from the Glasheen area a few nights ago.
The fatally injured teen was the front seat passenger in the car.
He suffered extensive injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body has been taken to the morgue at Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem examination will be done later.
The driver of this car, a male youth in this teens, and three other passengers, an adult male in his teens, a male youth and a female youth in her teens were injured.
Most read in Irish News
It’s understood all of those in the car were from the southside of Cork city.
All were taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) to receive treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the other car involved, a woman in her 30s, was also taken to Cork University Hospital where she is receiving treatment for serious injuries, but her condition has been described as non-life threatening.
The woman is understood to have been on her way home from work when the collision occurred.
According to sources, the car was being driven up the incorrect side of the motorway when the collision happened.
DIVERSIONS IN PLACE
Gardaí have preserved the scene to allow for a full technical and forensic inspection by Garda collision scene experts who will try to determine how the accident happened.
Local diversions are in place and because of the closure of the very busy motorway motorists have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
Gardai are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have video footage (including dash-cam) is asked to contact Gardaí.
Gardai can be contacted at Mitchelstown Garda Station on 025 84833, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
In a statement this morning, gardai said: “Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a fatal road traffic incident that occurred during the early hours of this morning, Saturday, 1st July 2023, on the M8 at Ballybeg in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
“The two vehicle collision happened at around 1am. A passenger from one of these cars, a male youth (teens) suffered fatal injuries.
“The driver of this car, a male youth in this teens, and 3 other passengers, an adult male (teens), a male youth and a female youth (teens) were taken to Cork University Hospital to receive treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
“The driver of the other car involved, a woman in her 30s, was taken to Cork University Hospital where she is receiving treatment for serious injuries.
“The scene remains preserved this morning to allow for a technical examination, with local diversions in place.
APPEAL
“Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information to come forward to them.
“Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have video footage (including dash-cam) is asked to contact Gardaí.
“Gardaí can be contacted at Mitchelstown Garda Station on 025 84833, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
They also stated “As the vehicle involved was subject to an interaction with An Garda Síochána prior to this incident this matter has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) under Section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.”