Counties Affected
Updated 28 September 2026: this report was regenerated with corrected figures. An earlier version overstated the year-on-year change by comparing against our own incomplete record of the previous year rather than official Road Safety Authority statistics, and included some double-counted incidents. See our methodology.
Overview
Four people lost their lives on Irish roads between Friday 28 August and Monday 31 August 2026. The deaths span three counties — Galway, Kerry and Sligo — and involve a range of road users and circumstances, serving as a sobering reminder of the risks present on all types of roads, from national routes to local roads in residential areas.
The Incidents
Monday, 31 August — N69, Tralee, Co Kerry A 24-year-old Canadian woman, Nelia Scheeres, a medical student at the University of Limerick, died following a collision involving a car and a truck on the N69 in Tralee on Monday afternoon. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death is a profound loss to her family, her friends, and to the wider UL community.
Friday, 29 August — Gortnaleck, Grange, Co Sligo A man in his 40s died after being struck by his own van on a steeply inclined local road near Luke’s Bridge in Gortnaleck, Grange. The incident occurred in the mid-afternoon and is a reminder that vehicle safety — including ensuring a vehicle is properly secured before exiting — can be a matter of life and death.
Friday, 29 August — Sligo town An e-scooter user died after being struck by a van on a local road in Sligo town. This is the second e-scooter-related fatality recorded in the country in recent times and underlines the vulnerability of e-scooter users in traffic.
Thursday, 28 August — Salthill, Co Galway A man in his 40s sustained serious injuries in a single-vehicle e-scooter collision outside the former Spinnaker House Hotel on the Salthill promenade and later died in University Hospital Galway. This incident involved no other vehicle, highlighting that single-vehicle crashes carry very serious risks for e-scooter users even in familiar surroundings.
E-Scooters: A Growing Concern
Two of the four fatalities recorded this period involved e-scooters, and both deserve careful reflection. E-scooters have become an increasingly common sight on Irish roads and paths, yet awareness of the risks they carry — particularly for the users themselves — has not always kept pace with their popularity.
E-scooter users have no protective bodywork around them and are, like cyclists, among the most exposed road users in any collision. The Road Safety Authority has previously advised that:
- Helmets should always be worn, even where not yet legally mandated.
- E-scooters should be operated at appropriate speeds, particularly in areas with pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
- Users should be visible — lights and high-visibility clothing are strongly encouraged, especially in low-light conditions.
- E-scooters should never be operated under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The legal framework around e-scooters in Ireland continues to evolve. Users are encouraged to stay informed about current regulations and to treat their e-scooter as a vehicle deserving the same level of care and attention as any other mode of transport.
Year-to-Date Context
Based on our own tally compiled from news reports, 123 people have died on Irish roads so far in 2026. At the same point last year, the official Road Safety Authority figure stood at 107.
This represents an approximate increase of around 15% on a like-for-like basis, though it is important to note that our running total is drawn from news reports and tends to run slightly ahead of the official RSA count, which is subject to a more rigorous verification process. The two figures are not directly comparable, and the true year-on-year change will only become clear when official figures are published. That said, the gap is sufficient to warrant attention and continued vigilance across all road-user groups.
Safety Reminders
As the August bank holiday weekend gives way to the final stretch of summer, roads will remain busy with returning holiday traffic, back-to-school journeys, and the everyday mix of commuters, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. A few simple reminders:
- Slow down. Speed remains one of the leading factors in fatal collisions. Reducing speed increases reaction time and significantly reduces the severity of any impact.
- Secure your vehicle. The Sligo incident is a tragic reminder to always apply the handbrake and, where relevant, use wheel chocks on inclined ground before exiting any vehicle.
- Be aware of vulnerable road users. Cyclists, pedestrians and e-scooter users share the road and are far more exposed than those inside vehicles. Extra care near them is never wasted.
- Do not drive tired. Late summer travel can involve long journeys. Take regular breaks and never drive when fatigued.
Looking Ahead
Every road death leaves an absence that cannot be filled — in families, in communities, in workplaces and in lecture halls. Nelia Scheeres, a young woman at the start of a medical career dedicated to helping others, the two men who died in Sligo and Galway in e-scooter incidents, and the man who lost his life in Grange — each of them represents an irreplaceable loss.
Road safety is not a passive concern. It requires active choices, made every day, by every road user. We ask all who travel Irish roads in the days and weeks ahead to do so with care, attention, and regard for those around them.
Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of all those who died this period.
Figures marked as year-to-date are compiled by roaddeaths.ie from publicly available news reports and may differ from official Road Safety Authority statistics. Official figures are published by the RSA and An Garda Síochána.
Report card description: Four people died on Irish roads between 28 and 31 August 2026, across counties Galway, Kerry and Sligo. Two of the fatalities involved e-scooter users, prompting renewed focus on the safety of this growing but vulnerable road-user group.