Gardai investigate fatal accident in Roscommon

Gardai in Roscommon are investigating the circumstances of a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision on Monday night which claimed the life of a local man in his 20s. The collision happened at around 3.15am on the Roscommon to Castlecoote Road, about two and half miles outside Roscommon town heading towards Creggs in the Ballybride townland. The sole occupant of the car, a young man aged 23, was pronounced dead at the scene and his remains were later removed to the morgue at Roscommon County Hospital. He has been named locally as Dara Gately, son of Eamon Gately and Deirdre Hunt, who is the Marketing Officer in Athlone Community Radio, based in the Business Development Centre, Parnell Square. He has one brother and a sister. Poignantly, it's understood the 23-year-old was not far from his home when the tragic accident occurred and had spent a number of months in hospital some years ago after a serious road accident. A large number of messages of shock and sympathy were left on his facebook page yesterday afternoon (Tuesday). No funeral arrangements have been finalised as of yet. The road remained closed for a time to facilitate a forensic collision examination and diversions were put in place in the Castlecoote area on Tuesday morning. Witnesses to the accident or anyone with any information is asked to contact the gardai in Roscommon on 090 6638300, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.