Teenager killed instantly in head-on stolen motor crash named locally as five battling injuries and GSOC probe launched
A TEENAGER died in a horror head-on collision after the car he was in drove the wrong way down a motorway in the early hours of this morning.
John Foley, 16, was killed instantly[1] when the stolen motor he was a front-seat passenger in collided with another car on the M8.
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A teenager died in a horror head-on collision after the car he was in drove the wrong way down a motorway in the early hours of yesterday
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John Foley, 16, was killed instantly when the stolen motor collided with another car
Sources told The Irish Sun on Sunday the stolen car was being driven on the wrong side of the M8 in the northbound carriageway when the collision happened.
The female driver of the other car was seriously injured in the smash shortly after 1am on the Cork to Dublin road.
Four teen friends of John — one of them a girl — were also injured in the horrific accident at Ballybeg near Mitchelstown, Co Cork[2].
The dead lad came from Spur Hill in Togher on Cork city’s southside, sources revealed.
John suffered extensive injuries after the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body was taken to Cork University Hospital’s morgue where a post-mortem examination will be carried out later.
The Irish Sun on Sunday can reveal the 17-year-old driver of the car is known to the Gardai[3].
We have learned the driver, from Dublin[4], was recently found asleep in a stolen car in the west of the capital.
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He is allegedly a member of a group who have previously stolen cars, before meeting up in the Midlands and driving to other parts of the country.
Gardai and the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission are investigating the fatal M8 crash as the car carrying the five teenagers was involved in an interaction with cops earlier.
A GSOC spokesperson said: “The referral was made by a Garda Superintendent under section 102(1) of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005. The matter is now under examination by GSOC.”
The driver of the stolen car and three other passengers were all taken to Cork University Hospital where they received treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
It’s understood all of those in the car — with the exception of the Dubliner driver — were from the southside of Cork city.
CAR STOLEN FROM CORK
The driver of the other car, a woman in her 30s, was also taken to Cork University Hospital[5] where she is receiving treatment for serious injuries described as non-life threatening.
The car involved in the collision was stolen from the Glasheen area of Cork city and was one of five taken during the week.
There was a brother and sister, 19 and 14 respectively in the back of the car.
The woman, who was injured when her car was struck head-on by the stolen car, is from Cork and is understood to have been on her way to Dublin Airport for an early morning flight.
It is understood there was an incident earlier in the night when there was an attempted theft of a vehicle parked outside a home in Glanworth.
‘WOMAN IS VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE’
The owner of that car woke up and called the Gardai, but when they arrived at the scene the stolen car took off at high speed.
It was driven towards Kildorrery and an attempt by Gardai to stop it failed.
It was then driven towards Mitchelstown before accessing the northbound side of motorway.
But they were driving southbound towards Cork city the wrong way and collided with the on-coming car.
A source said “The woman in the car is very lucky to be alive as her car was hit head-on by the other vehicle which was being driven at speed.”
GARDA PROBE
Gardai preserved the scene of the accident to allow for a full technical and forensic inspection by Garda collision scene experts.
Local diversions were in place and because of the closure of the very busy motorway motorists were advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
Cops said: “Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a fatal road traffic incident that occurred during the early hours of Saturday, 1st July, 2023, on the M8 at Ballybeg in Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
“Gardai 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 Gardai.
“Gardai can be contacted at Mitchelstown Garda Station on 025 84833, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
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Gardai preserved the scene of the accident to allow for a full technical and forensic inspection by Garda collision scene experts
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The female driver of the other car was seriously injured in the smash shortly after 1am
References
- ^ killed instantly (www.thesun.ie)
- ^ Co Cork (www.thesun.ie)
- ^ Gardai (www.thesun.ie)
- ^ Dublin (www.thesun.ie)
- ^ Cork University Hospital (www.thesun.ie)