Monaghan man dies after Kilmeena crash

CRASH SCENE The scene at Knocknaboley Bridge in Kilmeena on Sunday afternoon. Twenty-five-year-old Jonathan Faul lost his life as a result of injuries sustained in the crash in the early hours of Sunday morning.Pic: Paul Mealey

Monaghan man dies after Kilmeena crash


Neill O’Neill

A YOUNG man from Monaghan lost his life last Sunday morning when the van he was driving collided with a bridge between Newport and Westport. The victim has been named as 25-year-old Jonathan Faul, who was a native of Inishkeen near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan, but who had been living in Rossmore, Newport. It is reported he was engaged to be married.
The incident occurred around 1.45am in Kilmeena when the victim’s van, which had been travelling towards Westport from Newport, collided with Knocknaboley Bridge near the local community hall. He was taken to Mayo General Hospital where he died a short time later.
Members of his family visited the scene on Sunday while the road remained closed until 6pm Sunday evening as a forensic collision investigation was carried out. Gardaí said yesterday that the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing and anybody who may be able to help them with their inquires is urged to do so by contacting Westport Garda Station on 098 25555.
Moments after the van struck the bridge another car collided with one of the large stones which had been dislodged from it, resulting in a passenger of this car being brought to Mayo General Hospital for treatment. Their condition has not been discussed, but it is understood that they were not very seriously injured.
Meanwhile, Gardaí in Westport have launched an investigation after a cyclist was injured on the Ballinrobe Road, in the townland of Mayneen, on Saturday, November 5 last.
Describing it as an unusual incident, a Garda spokesperson said that the 35-year-old male cyclist was overtaken by a tractor pulling a flat-bed trailer loaded with round baless of hay or silage, but as this manoeuvre was being executed the vehicle collided with him but did not stop.
The cyclist was taken from the scene by ambulance to Mayo General Hospital with fractures to his arm and wrist, and Gardaí are appealing for the driver of the tractor to come forward. Similarly, anybody who may have met this vehicle or purchased bales of hay or silage on Saturday, November 5 last is urged to contact Gardaí in Westport on the above number.