Teen cyclist (13) critical after being hit by car at notorious blackspot

The teen cyclist was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda following the incident on the outskirts of the town on Sunday evening.

The latest incident comes as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) launched a campaign for road safety among children under 14.

The collision took place on the Drogheda to Slane road shortly after 8.30pm on Sunday.

The road around King William's Glen Junction was closed off until late on Monday afternoon, with gardai forensic collision investigators scanning the area.

Driver

At the scene was a silver Renault Scenic which was involved in the crash. Its front windscreen was entirely smashed. The driver of the car is understood to have avoided injury.

The N51 road, near Tullyallen Village, has already made headlines this year as a notorious blackspot.

A man died after being struck by a car on the same stretch of road just last week.

A motion had already been put forward to Louth County Council by Cllr Kevin Callan requesting an inspection of the "line of sight" at the junction.

"Currently a severe difference of road surface level exists west of the junction which is causing traffic travelling from the Drogheda direction to Slane to travel into the wrong side of the road to avoid this dip," the motion read.

Seperately, the RSA has urged parents and teachers to put road safety on top of the back-to-school checklist.

Four children under the age of 14 have died on Irish roads this year - with 32 dying on Irish roads between 2011 and 2015. Of the 32, 14 were pedestrians, while two were cyclists.

Chief Executive of the RSA, Moyagh Murdoch encouraged parents to insist that their children wear reflective clothing.

"Don't leave them standing on the side of the road in the dark to wait for a bus.

"Make sure they know that when they're on the bus, they should wear their seatbelt at all times and never stand while the bus is moving," Ms Murdoch said.

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Irish woman who died in a car accident in Australia will be laid to rest this week.

Sarah Kelly was killed in the crash in Perth, and will be buried in her home town of Ballinasloe on Thursday.

The popular hairdresser moved to Perth about two years ago. It's understood she had recently applied for permanent residency there and was a member of her local camogie club. Southern Districts GAC Perth paid tribute to Ms Kelly following her passing and called her "a wonderful member of our camogie team".

"Sarah joined our club this year and brought with her energy and enthusiasm, a beaming smile and infectious laugh," the club said in a Facebook post.

Sarah is mourned by her parents, Mary and Pat, along with her two brothers and two sisters.