Counties Affected
Updated 21 August 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
Two people lost their lives on Irish roads between 13 and 16 April 2026, with both fatal collisions occurring on Wednesday, 15 April. The deaths — in counties Louth and Sligo — are a sobering reminder that road trauma continues to touch communities across the country, in rural areas and on roads that many people travel every day.
Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and communities affected by these losses.
Incidents
Castletown, Co Louth — 15 April 2026
A woman in her 60s died following a two-vehicle collision on Bellews Bridge Road in Castletown, Co Louth, shortly after 1.45pm. Gardaí attended the scene and the road was closed for a period to allow for a forensic collision investigation.
Ballymote, Co Sligo — 15 April 2026
A male teenager lost his life when the car he was travelling in collided with a van on the Ballymote to Tubbercurry Road in Co Sligo, at around 11.40am. The death of a young person on the road is a particularly painful reminder of what is at stake every time we drive.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to both collisions to come forward.
Year-to-Date Context
Based on our own tally compiled from news reports, 45 people have died on Irish roads so far in 2026. At the same point last year, the Road Safety Authority recorded 51 deaths — suggesting an approximate reduction of around 12% compared to the same period in 2025.
It is important to note that our running total is drawn from media reports and tends to run slightly ahead of the official RSA count, so direct comparisons should be treated with care. That said, the overall direction is cautiously encouraging. While any reduction in road deaths is welcome, 45 lives lost in just over three and a half months is a significant human toll — and the pace of loss has not let up.
Safety Advice
Both collisions occurred during daytime hours on rural roads — a pattern that reflects a consistent theme in Irish road safety data. Rural roads, which often lack hard shoulders, lighting, or clear sightlines, require heightened care and reduced speed.
The Road Safety Authority continues to urge all road users to:
- Slow down, particularly on rural and regional roads where conditions can change quickly
- Stay focused — driver distraction remains one of the leading contributors to fatal collisions
- Wear a seatbelt at all times, regardless of journey length or road type
- Young and novice drivers are encouraged to take extra time to build experience, and to always drive within their comfort and skill level
If you witnessed either of the collisions referenced in this report, Gardaí are asking you to contact your local Garda station.
Looking Ahead
Every road death in Ireland represents a life cut short and a family changed forever. The woman from Co Louth and the young man from Co Sligo were somebody’s mother, somebody’s son — and they deserved to arrive safely.
A modest improvement in year-on-year figures should give no cause for complacency. The goal of Vision Zero — eliminating road deaths entirely — remains the standard we must hold ourselves to. Each of us has a role to play: slow down, stay present, and treat every journey as the serious responsibility it is.
If you have information about either of the incidents listed above, please contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Report card description: Two people were killed in separate road collisions in counties Louth and Sligo on 15 April 2026, bringing our year-to-date total to 45 — approximately 12% below the same point last year, though the human cost remains deeply significant.