New father critical after crash

CRASH SCENE?Slawomir Gostomski, a Polish national and long term Westport resident, was seriously injured in a crash that took place outside the Halfway House Lounge and Bar in Islandeady on Saturday evening. Michael Donnelly took this picture of the scene on Sunday morning, which shows the other vehicle involved in the incident.

New father remains critical after crash


Man crashes on way home from hospital after baby daughter's birth

Neill O’Neill

A MAN was critically injured in a road accident in Islandeady on Saturday evening. He was returning home to Westport from Mayo General Hospital where his wife had given birth to their second child earlier that day.
Slawomir Gostomski, (pictured) who last night remained on life support in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, had been in Castlebar to see his wife, Violet, and their newly born daughter on Saturday.
While returning to Westport, where he lives in the Ashwood estate, Mr Gostomski was involved in a collision at the Halfway House in Islandeady at around 8pm.
It is believed his car collided with another vehicle that was travelling in the same direction before it hit the building.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, and the drivers of both cars were removed to Mayo General Hospital. The driver of the other car was not seriously injured.
The main N5 Westport-to-Castlebar road was closed following the accident, and a technical examination of the scene was undertaken by Garda forensic investigators. The road reopened at lunchtime on Sunday.
Mr Gostomski, originally from Poland, is in his early 30s and has been living in Westport for around eight years. He and his wife, Violet, also have an 18-month-old son, and he has been described as a dedicated father. It is understood that his mother had just arrived in Westport to help out with the new arrival and to visit her son and his young family.
Slawomir, known locally as Slawek, was a former staff member at Ashlawn Filling Station on The Newport Road in Westport, where he worked for several years. He was also among the most active members of Westport Squash Club.
Speaking yesterday, club official Gerry Galvin expressed the devastation of the club members upon hearing the news over the weekend, and he said their thoughts are firmly with Slawomir and his family.
“Slawek is one of the most dedicated and certainly the most active members we have in the club since he joined over six years ago,” said Gerry. “He was always playing a game or looking to play a game, and fulfilled all his fixtures in terms of the various tournaments and round-robin competitions we have.
“His squash has improved remarkably over the years and he now competes in the very top tier of the club’s round-robin competitions, something he had only recently achieved and was proud of. Slawek is also a very outgoing and sociable guy and he mixed brilliantly with other members, both during games and on nights out. All in Westport Squash Club hold him in the highest of esteem.”
A team captained by Slawek is due to play in the final stage of of tournament in Westport Squash Club this week, and his colleagues and friends are now hoping to be able to make a gesture of goodwill to his wife.
“I have spoken to many members since the weekend, and we are all devastated by what is happening,” added Gerry. “We are hoping to rally the troops in support of Violet and Slawek’s family, and will begin with donating the proceeds and prize money from our current competition in the squash club. It is a small gesture in light of what they are going through, but we want them to know that the people of Westport care, and we hope to be able to get some community support behind us too.”