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.
I need to flag one issue before writing: the third incident contains an internal reference stating “the death brought the total number of road traffic fatalities in 2023 to 155” — this appears to be copied from a 2023 source and is inconsistent with the 2026 reporting period. I will report the incident itself but omit that erroneous statistic.
Overview
The four days from 29 August to 1 September 2026 brought three road deaths across two counties — Kerry and Sligo — a sobering close to what should have been a late-summer bank holiday weekend. Each life lost represents a family, a community, and a future cut short. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected.
Incidents
Monday, 1 September 2026 — N69, Tralee, Co Kerry
A 24-year-old Canadian woman, Nelia Scheeres, lost her life in a collision between a car and a truck on the N69 in Tralee on Monday afternoon. Ms Scheeres was a medical student at the University of Limerick, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The thoughts of the road safety community are with her family, friends, and fellow students at this devastating time.
Friday, 29 August 2026 — Gortnaleck, Grange, Co Sligo
A man in his 40s died near Luke’s Bridge in Gortnaleck, Grange, after being struck by his own van on a steeply inclined local road. The incident is a reminder that road danger is not confined to moving traffic — vehicle runaway incidents, while less frequently discussed, can have tragic consequences. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.
Friday, 29 August 2026 — Sligo Town
An e-scooter user in Sligo died after being struck by a van on a local road. This is among a growing number of incidents involving e-scooter riders in recent years. As these vehicles become more common on Irish roads, questions around appropriate infrastructure, visibility, and rider safety continue to demand urgent attention.
Year-to-Date Context
Based on our own tally compiled from published news reports, approximately 123 people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far in 2026. At the same point last year, the official Road Safety Authority figure stood at 123.
It is important to note that our running count is drawn from media reports and tends to run slightly ahead of the official RSA total; direct comparisons should therefore be treated as approximate. With that caveat in mind, the picture so far in 2026 appears to be broadly in line with the same period last year — neither a cause for complacency nor a dramatic departure from recent trends. Every figure in these statistics is a person, and even a stable toll represents an enormous burden of grief borne by families across Ireland.
Safety Spotlight: E-Scooters and Vulnerable Road Users
The death of an e-scooter user in Sligo is a timely reminder of the particular risks faced by those on smaller, lower-visibility vehicles. The Road Safety Authority has consistently advised e-scooter users to:
- Wear a helmet at all times, even where not legally required
- Use lights — front and rear — in all conditions, particularly at dusk and dawn
- Stay visible by wearing bright or reflective clothing
- Avoid footpaths where prohibited, and exercise caution at junctions
Drivers are reminded to allow extra space when passing vulnerable road users and to be especially alert on local and rural roads where sightlines may be limited.
Bank holiday weekends traditionally see increased traffic volumes, increased journey distances, and greater fatigue among road users. If you are driving, plan rest stops, share the driving where possible, and never drive impaired.
Looking Ahead
As the summer draws to a close and school traffic returns to Irish roads from September, the mix of road users will change noticeably. Children walking and cycling, school buses making frequent stops, and increased rush-hour volumes all call for extra patience and care. We ask every road user — driver, cyclist, pedestrian, and scooter rider — to take a moment to consider the responsibility they carry each time they set out.
The three people who lost their lives this week did not come home. Let their memory be a reason for all of us to slow down, pay attention, and look out for one another.
If you have information about a road fatality not included in our count, please contact us through the website.
Report card description: Three people lost their lives on Irish roads between 29 August and 1 September 2026, in incidents across Kerry and Sligo — including a medical student, a local man, and an e-scooter user. The year-to-date toll of approximately 123 deaths remains broadly in line with the same point last year.