Boy (4) critical after five-car smash

By Fiona Donnelly

A woman in her 30s remains in a critical condition following a five-vehicle crash which also left a four-year-old boy injured.

The woman, who is from Cork, and was the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the collision, underwent emergency surgery last night.

The horror accident happened at 1.40pm yesterday at Glencaum, Co Cork, about a mile outside the village of Rathduff on the N20 main Cork to Limerick Road.

One articulated truck, a BMW car, an Opel Vectra car, a Berlingo van and a Volkswagen Transporter van were involved in the collision.

Five people, including the woman and boy, aged 4, were rushed to hospital by ambulance.

The woman is said to be in a critical condition while the boy is serious but stable with his family maintaining a vigil by his bedside.

He was a back seat passenger in a car being driven by his mother.

The other three people were treated for injuries which are not believed to be life- threatening.

Five ambulance units of the fire service from Anglesea Street in Cork city and Mallow attended the scene.

Garda Forensic Collision Investigators have examined the scene in a bid to determine the cause of the crash.

COLLISION

Supt Con Cadogan appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact Gardai on (021) 4946200.

Meanwhile, gardai are investigating a fatal collision in Blackrock, Dublin, yesterday afternoon.

A 36-year-old man was seriously injured when his motorbike hit a parked car in Carysfort Avenue at around 4.40pm.

He was taken by ambulance to St Vincent's University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed either incident to contact them.

hnews@herald.ie