A fatal hit-and-run incident has claimed the life of a teenage cyclist in County Meath, Republic of Ireland, leaving local law enforcement appealing for public assistance to track down the responsible driver.
Gardaí, Ireland’s national police service, confirmed that the collision between a white van and a bicycle took place at approximately 20:05 local time on Tuesday in the rural area of Nugentstown, just outside Kells. First responders who arrived at the scene pronounced the victim, a male in his late teens, dead at the site.
In a departure from standard protocol for traffic collisions, the driver of the van involved in the crash fled the area immediately after the incident, failing to stop at the scene as required under Irish road traffic law. As of Wednesday morning, the road where the collision occurred remained fully closed to all through traffic, as officials from the Garda’s forensic collision investigation unit carry out a detailed examination of the site.
The office of the coroner, which oversees investigations into sudden and unexpected deaths in Ireland, has already been notified of the fatality.
Investigating officers have issued a public appeal for anyone who was in the Nugentstown area around the time of the incident to come forward with information. Specifically, Gardaí are asking any motorists who were traveling through the area that have dash camera footage, or any members of the public who captured mobile phone recordings of the van or the collision scene before officers arrived, to share that material with investigators. Anyone with information can contact the local Garda station in Kells to provide details anonymously or on the record.