Hit-and-run victim not found for 14 hours

THE victim of a hit-and-run accident near Furbo at the weekend – who wasn’t discovered for nearly 14 hours after it occurred – remains in a critical condition at University Hospital Galway (UHG) this week.

Gardaí investigating the case are understood to have spoken to a woman driver from the Clare area in relation to the accident that happened on Sunday night last, October 24, between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

The injured man wasn’t discovered until about 11.30am on the following Monday morning of October 25, when the alarm was raised and emergency services were called to the scene.

The victim – a middle-aged man understood to be originally from Portugal who had worked and lived in Galway for a number of years – is currently being treated in the ICU (Intensive Care) unit of UHG.

Gardaí are now following a definite line of inquiry into the accident after a woman presented herself to Ennis Garda Station, Co. Clare, on Monday last.

It is understood that the man suffered serious head injuries in the accident when he was struck by the car which was being driven from the Spiddal direction.

The impact of the collision – which occurred on the Spiddal side of Furbo Church – resulted in the victim being hurtled over an adjacent roadside wall, where he lay until the following morning.

The accident on the main R336 Galway to Spiddal road is being investigated by Salthill Gardaí who have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage to make contact with them.

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie