A 50-year-old man, who was hit while cycling a bicycle on the M1 motorway this evening, has died in hospital a short time ago.
The collision happened around 5pm this evening on the M1 motorway near Swords.
A statement issued just before 11pm on Sunday said: “The cyclist was pronounced dead a short time ago in Beaumont Hospital and the Coroner has been notified.”
Gardaí said that the man was seriously injured when he was struck by a car on the southbound carriageway of M1 between junctions 4 – Donabate and junction – 3 Swords. He was taken by Ambulance to Beaumont Hospital. The occupants of the car were uninjured in the collision.
The Garda press office said that the motorway was closed for a brief period to facilitate emergency services but reopened a short time later.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Coolock Garda Station 01-6664200, Swords Garda Station 01-6664700 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
The driver is unlikely to face prosecution due to fact that cyclists are expressly prohibited from riding on motorways under the Road Act, 1993. However all drivers have a general duty of care not to endanger other road users.
I can’t believe the driver didn’t ‘see’ the cyclist and take avoiding action.
We can only speculate on what happened until information is forthcoming from the Gardai ,but presumably the Cyclist was on the emergency hard shoulder and not in the driving lanes for his own safety. Then that would mean the car driver was traveling on the emergency lane which is also Illegal.
I think the driver should be at least charged with undue care and attention and lose his licence and do Gaol time. Considering it was 5.00pm on a bright sunny evening in late july and he failed to avoid the Cyclist. That means he was not looking at the road ahead for any obstacles or persons and failed to stop in time.