Mayo Gardaí seek public assistance following death of American in quad bike accident

GARDAÍ in Achill are continuing to investigate the death of an American national who was killed following a quad bike accident on Sunday afternoon.

The man, named locally as Michael Gallagher, was aged 87 years and from San Francisco in the United States. He died following a quad bike accident on the road to Purteen Harbour just off the R319 near Keel.

Gardaí say the fatal single vehicle collision occurred at approximately 1.45pm on Sunday, July 30 and no other person was involved or injured in the collision.

It is understood that the deceased man was trapped under the quad bike after it left the road and entered a drain. The drains along the road to Purteen Harbour can be up to eight feet in depth.

The alarm was quickly raised and the emergency services, which included members of An Garda Síochána, the local Coast Guard unit and fire brigade attended the scene. Mr Gallagher was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed and taken to Mayo University Hospital, where a post mortem examination took place.

It is understood that Mr Gallagher was staying in the locality with a local family and had borrowed the quad bike shortly before the accident occurred.

The road was closed on Sunday afternoon while forensic collision investigators carried out technical examinations of the scene.

Purteen Harbour is a popular location during the summer months in Achill and Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them. Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Keel on Achill Island between 1pm and 2pm and who may have camera footage including dash cam footage is asked to make contact with gardaí and make it available to them.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.