Two killed after bus veers out of control and crashes in Co Cork

Two people have died after a bus crashed into a number of parked cars and hit a pedestrian in a Co Cork village on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened at around 1.35pm when a Bus Éireann bus veered out of control on Strand Road in Monkstown in the Lower Harbour area and crossed on to the incorrect side of the road.

The bus struck six cars that were parked by the slipway on the sea side of the road opposite the Bosun and Ensign pubs before it hit a pedestrian who had been crossing the road.

The pedestrian, a 64-year-old man originally from west Cork but resident now in the Lower Harbour, was attended to by paramedics but was fatally injured. He and the bus driver (51) - described by Bus Éireann as a “long-standing and greatly valued employee based at the Capwell depot” - were pronounced dead at the scene.

The bodies of both men, whose names are not being released until all next of kin are notified, have been removed to Cork University Hospital where postmortems will be carried out on Wednesday.

Gardaí are hoping that the postmortem on the body of the bus driver, who is from Ballincollig, will establish the exact cause of death including whether the man have suffered some cardiac event.

There were no passengers on the bus, the 216, which runs from Monkstown to Cork University Hospital, but a 13-year-old girl who was on the pavement had a narrow escape from serious injury.

The girl was walking with her father on the pavement when the bus veered across the road and crashed into the parked cars but the girl’s father managed to push her out of the way to safety.

It is understood the girl suffered some bruises and was badly shaken and she was later taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital purely as a precautionary measure.

Units of the Cork City Fire Service from Anglesea Street and Cork County Fire Service from Carrigaline attended at the scene and made it safe before gardaí began an investigation into the crash.

Garda closed off the road which links Monkstown with Passage West and put diversions in place to allow a Garda forensic crash investigator examine the scene.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward and contact them at Togher Garda station in Cork city on 021-4947120.

In a statement, Bus Éireann said it extended its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the two people who died in the incident.

“This is a very tragic event. This is a terrible and sad day for everyone at Bus Éireann, and we are all heavy-hearted,” said Stephen Kent, the company’s chief executive officer.

“Our thoughts are with the families and communities affected by this loss. We would like sincerely to thank the emergency services for all their work and assistance today and our own employees who responded at the scene.”

Bus Éireann said it was putting in place support measures for employees impacted.

“Safety has always been Bus Éireann’s priority and the company is also investigating the accident, and cooperating fully with the relevant authorities,” it added.

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