Four people have died on roads across the island of Ireland in less than 24 hours following a series of fatal accidents in Co Louth, Co Tipperary, and Belfast.
The tragedies claimed the lives of three people in the Republic and one woman in Northern Ireland on Thursday, while several others remain in hospital with serious injuries.
The deaths brought the number of fatalities on Irish roads to 97 so far this year, an increase of seven on the same time last year.
Two people in their 70s died following a two-car collision on the R173 at The Bush, Co Louth, shortly before 3.10pm on Thursday.
The male driver and female passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodies were removed to Louth County Hospital, where post-mortem examinations will take place.
A man and woman, both aged in their 30s and travelling in the second vehicle, suffered serious injuries. They were airlifted to Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for treatment.
Appealing for witnesses, a Garda spokesperson said: ‘Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have been travelling on the R173 between Dundalk and Carlingford, Co. Louth between 2:30pm and 3:30pm on Thursday 16th July 2026.’
They added that road users with dashcam or mobile phone footage are asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí.
Just hours later, a man in his 50s lost his life in a single-vehicle collision on the R505 near Dundrum, Co Tipperary.
The crash happened shortly before 5.50pm. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was removed to University Hospital Waterford for a post-mortem examination.
The road remained closed for a time while Garda Forensic Collision Investigators carried out an examination.
A Garda spokesperson said: ‘Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have been travelling on the R505 near Dundrum, Co. Tipperary between 5:30pm and 6:00pm on Thursday 16th July 2026.’
They also urged anyone with camera footage, including dashcam or mobile phone recordings, to contact investigators.
Meanwhile, in north Belfast, a 24-year-old Tipperary woman was killed after she and a male pedestrian were struck by a car in the York Street area shortly before 2.40am.
The woman has since been named as Raven Adams, who was originally from Co Tipperary. The male pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police said the driver of the vehicle fled the scene but was later arrested. A 22-year-old man remains in custody as enquiries continue.
Gardaí and the PSNI have appealed for anyone with information or footage relating to the three fatal collisions to come forward as investigations continue.
