An elderly woman died after she was struck by a truck as she crossed the road in the centre of Macroom, Co Cork, as the town’s new bypass was being opened.
The fatal collision happened on the main street, close to the Briary Gap theatre, just before 1pm as dignitaries were gathered north of the town to mark the official opening of the 8.4km bypass.
Guests there heard how the new bypass will take 700 heavy goods vehicles out of the town daily and reduce traffic volumes through the town by up to 40%, creating a safer environment.
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Tragically, the woman was struck by one of the last articulated trucks to drive through the town centre before the new bypass opened fully to traffic this afternoon.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but the woman was pronounced dead a short time later.
A Garda spokesman said: "Gardai attended the scene of a fatal road traffic collision involving a truck and a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 12:50pm on Friday, 9th December 2022, on the Main Street in Macroom, County Cork.
"The pedestrian, a woman in her 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has been removed from the scene to the mortuary at Cork University Hospital.
"No other injuries to persons was reported."
Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the Main Street between 12:30pm and 1pm are asked to make this footage available to gardai.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026 20590, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
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