A WOMAN IN her 70s who was the driver and sole occupant of a car that crashed last week has died. 

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the single-vehicle road crash in Co Kerry on Wednesday to come forward.

The collision occurred on the N23, Lisheenbaun, at Castleisland 10 December at approximately 11.40pm.

The woman who has since died was in her 70s and had been brought from the scene to Kerry University Hospital.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 6671160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station,” a garda spokesperson said.

There were a number of road deaths at the weekend: a man in his 60s after he was struck by a lorry in Co Monaghan on Saturday morning, and two men aged in their 20s died in a four-vehicle crash in Co Tipperary on Saturday evening.

A man in his 30s died in a collision in Tipperary in the early hours of Sunday morning.

These latest deaths mean there have now been more than 175 deaths on Irish roads this year, already up on the 164 who died last year. 

Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority will later today launch the annual Christmas and New Year Road Safety Campaign as they not that the period is one of the busiest for Irish roads. 

“It is also one of the periods during which road users are at the highest risk of being involved in a fatal or serious road traffic collision,” the garda press office said in advance of the launch. 

This year’s Christmas and New Year road safety appeal is focusing on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.