JAUNTING CAR TOURISTS ESCAPED DEATH AT SAME BEAUTY SPOT LAST MAY
YESTERDAY’S tragedy isn’t the first incident involving tourists being flung from a jaunting car at the Kerry landmark.
Last May, American tourists came very close to losing their lives when they were thrown from a jaunting car that hung dangerously over a cliff close to the Gap of Dunloe.
The incident occurred at Garden Quay in Killarney National Park after the horse became scared and bolted backwards, throwing the three occupants out of the carriage, which hung over the edge of the cliff.
If it wasn’t for the actions of jarvey Hugh O’Donoghue, the incident could have ended tragically. He was taken to hospital with injuries to his shoulder and back, while the tourists sustained minor injuries and were released from hospital later the same day.
Later that month, on May 30, an American tourist named Janet Price, who was in her 60s, was killed while cycling close to Kate Kearney’s Cottage, just metres from where yesterday’s accident occurred. Ms Price collided with a trailer full of lambs after rounding a sharp turn.
Ms Price’s widower, Don Theiler, who witnessed her death, subsequently wrote to the Department of Transport calling for extra safety precautions to be put in place in the area to protect cyclists, hikers, pony carts and tourist cars.
He complained about the lack of signage and traffic controls.
In his letter, Mr Theiler described chaotic scenes on the tourist route the day his wife died. The narrow road is shared by ‘hikers, a variety of bikers, tourist pony carts, farm vehicles and automobiles’, Mr Theiler wrote. ‘There is virtually no signage on the road warning people of impending dangerous conditions ahead.’
Earlier in the cycle, he and Ms Price had had to get off their bikes to allow traffic to pass, he said.
‘The specific location where Janet was killed is a prime example of these especially hazardous conditions,’ he said. ‘It is a very sharp turn, virtually a U-turn. Currently there is no signage, warning lights, mirrors or other transportation control measures alerting people to the potential dangers ahead. The road is too narrow for the vehicles to easily pass one another.
‘It is impossible to see anything or anyone coming in the opposite direction until they are virtually on top of one another.’
He suggested a new gate for ‘authorised vehicles of residents and farmers, with an alternate access for pony carts, hikers and bicycles’. He also suggested an engineer’s survey be carried out.
‘My family and I are determined to pursue this matter to a reasonable conclusion, in part to ensure that something positive comes out of this tragic affair,’ he said.
His letter was copied to local TDs and Kerry County Council.
At the time, the then Mayor of Killarney, Brendan Cronin, stated that he supported an engineer’s survey, and said extra signage and mirrors must be installed.