Two young Indian men lost their lives in a devastating single-vehicle crash on the N80 in Leagh, Rathoe, County Carlow, in the early hours of Friday, marking another tragedy on a stretch of road already known for fatal accidents.
The victims have been named locally as Bhargav Chitturi (23), the driver, and Suresh Cherukuri (24), a rear-seat passenger. The car they were in veered off the road and crashed into a tree at around 1:15 AM, leaving both men dead at the scene. Two other occupants—a man and a woman in their 20s—were rushed to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A Road Marked by Tragedy
The accident occurred on the exact same spot where three young lives were lost a year ago to the day, further intensifying calls for road safety improvements in the area.
All four occupants of the car were members of the local Indian community in Carlow. Three of them had ties to the South East Technological University (SETU) in Carlow, with two graduates and one current student pursuing studies in the pharmaceutical sector. One of the victims had recently begun working for MSD, a leading pharmaceutical company in the region.
Community in Mourning
The devastating loss has sent shockwaves through Carlow’s Indian community and beyond. Superintendent Anthony Farrell confirmed that Gardaí have reached out to provide support to the victims’ families, both locally and in India.
Investigators are examining road conditions, as temperatures were around four degrees at the time of the crash, causing slippery surfaces. Speed is also being considered a possible contributing factor.
Government and Local Leaders Speak Out
Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that road safety remains a national priority.
“This is a heartbreaking loss of young lives. We must double down on road safety efforts to prevent further tragedies like this,” he stated.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Jennifer Murnane O’Connor extended her condolences, saying the Carlow community stands with the grieving families. She urged authorities to expedite safety improvements on the Leagh Bends stretch of road.
Councillor Will Paton described the crash as “horrific,” acknowledging the pain of not only the victims’ families but also the families of those lost in last year’s accident at the same location.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael Councillor Brian O’Donoghue confirmed that land acquisition processes and planning applications for road realignment are underway. However, he stressed that these improvements must be fast-tracked to prevent further loss of life.
Ongoing Investigation and Appeal for Information
Authorities are urging any road users with dash-cam footage or information about the crash to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059 913 6620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.
As the community grieves, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures on Ireland’s high-risk roads.
