Posted online: Feb 18th, 2010

By Sinéad Flanagan
Editor

A LOCAL community is in mourning following the death of a young man on Saturday night.
22-year-old James Scully from Ballyhade in Castledermot lost his life when the van he was travelling in failed to take a turn on the new M9 motorway, just before 3am. The single vehicle accident took place between exits three and four on the northbound carriageway near Ballytore.
James was in the car with his older sister Charlotte and younger brother Paul, both of whom are seriously injured.
21-year-old Paul was transferred to Beaumont Hospital where he is thought to be in a critical condition. 30-year-old Charoltte who was also brought to Naas has been transferred to Tallaght General Hospital with “severe” injuries.
The accident is the first to have happened on the €300 million stretch of road that was only opened in December. Kildare County Council Road Safety Officer, Declan Keogh remarked: “This was a tragic collision which has resulted in the loss of a young life, and left too others fighting for theirs. It is always sad to hear of a fatal collision, particularly when it involves young people because young people feel they are invincible, indestructible and free from pain while on the roads. Young men and women have their whole lives ahead of them, and in a split second, that’s all taken away from them, and that second can last forever for many families and friends.”
Local councillor Martin Heydon said: “It’s a terrible tragedy for the family and the community. The motorway was built to make the roads safer- it’s extremely tragic. My thoughts are with the family.”