GARDAÍ are investigating a “hit and run” after a car mounted a footpath and struck a Limerick man who was walking with a boy in Thomondgate on Saturday night, December 21.
The 31-year-old pedestrian was walking at Quarry Road, Thomondgate, when he sustained “head injuries” in the collision.
The boy, believed to be 12 years old, was not injured, said a reliable source.
The car failed to remain at the scene and was found burnt out later on, gardai said.
The pedestrian was initially attended to by members of Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service, before he was taken from the scene by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where his condition was unknown.
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí at Mayorstone Park in Limerick are investigating a hit and run traffic collision which occurred at Quarry Rd, Limerick at approximately 11.30pm Saturday, 21st December 2019.”
“A 31-year-old man was struck by a car which mounted the footpath and failed to remain at the scene, the injured man was taken to University Hospital in Limerick with head injuries.”
“The car involved in this incident was later found burnt out. No arrests have been made and investigations are continuing,” the spokesman added.
In a second unrelated incident Saturday, a male pedestrian suffered serious head injuries after he was struck by a taxi at Corbally Roundabout in Limerick, around 1.30am.
A Garda source said it appeared the man was dragged by the taxi for several feet during the collision.
A 152 L registered white coloured taxi which was located at the scene is being forensically examined by gardai.
A garda source said the male pedestrian sustained serious internal and external head injuries.
It’s understood the pedestrian was being treated for a “bleed to the brain”.
The driver of the van was not physically injured but was left shaken by the collision.
A Garda Forensic Collision Investigator (FCI) travelled from Cork to Limerick to examine the scene.
The officer is trained to forensically reconstruct a road traffic collision, and, their final report will be key to assisting the garda investigating team in ascertaining the cause of the collision.
Gardaí are to examine dashcam footage taken from the taxi, which may prove to be vital in the investigation, said the source.
Gardaí have appealed to any other motorists, who were in the area, shortly before, during, or after the collision, to make contact and provide information and or any dashcam footage they may have.
The collision occurred along the main artery into Limerick city centre from Corbally and south east Clare.
A garda spokesman said: “Gardaí at Henry St in Limerick are appealing for witnesses in relation to a serious road traffic collision that occurred at the roundabout at Corbally Rd near the Grove Island Shopping Centre at approximately 1.30am this morning, Saturday 21st December 2019.”
“A male pedestrian in his 40s was struck by a car as he crossed the road. He was removed to University Hospital Limerick with serious injuries. The driver of the car was uninjured.”
“The road is currently closed to traffic and local diversions are in place. Garda forensic collision investigators have been requested to examine the crash site scene.”
“Gardaí are appealing to any motorists who may have travelled on the road, to any motorist who may have camera footage of the incident or any witnesses to the collision to contact them at Henry St Garda station on 061-212400, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”
