The mother of a teenager killed in a hit-and-run has said her “heart will never be the same again,” reports The Mirror.
This paper has learned that the teenager who died on the Slane Road in Navan, Co Meath on Saturday night was 16-year-old Mia Lily Keogh O’Keeffe, reports The Mirror.
She is the seventh person to have died on roads across the island of Ireland over the weekend.
Mia, from Navan, was walking her dog and waiting at a pedestrian crossing when she was struck by a car, whose driver failed to remain at the scene at around 8:20pm, reports The Mirror.
Gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene, and Mia was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
It is understood Mia was a student at Loreto Secondary School, had several siblings, and came from a well-known local family, reports The Mirror.
Gardai initially searched for the driver, but it is understood that the suspect, a man in his 20s, later handed himself in. He was arrested and is being questioned over the incident.
Mia’s devastated mother, Louise, posted on social media: “My beautiful baby was taken by someone who fled and left her alone. My heart will never be the same again,” reports The Mirror.
In a statement, Gardai appealed for witnesses to come forward.
“At approximately 8:20pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to an incident involving a car and a pedestrian. The car involved failed to remain at the scene. The pedestrian, a 16-year-old female, was treated at the scene before being transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where she was later pronounced deceased,
“A male in his 20s has since been arrested in connection with the investigation and a car has been seized for technical and forensic examination. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region,” Gardai said, reports The Mirror.
They added that the Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.
“The scene remains preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and local traffic diversions are in place,” reports The Mirror.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users with camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, who were travelling in the area between 8:00pm and 8:45pm are asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí, reports The Mirror.
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