A parish priest at the funeral Mass of a 17-yr-old who died following an e-scooter fall in Carlow has called for more safety measures to be put in place around their use.
Leaving Certificate student Janis Ghirghircic Ozols from Willow Park, Carlow town, died when he and a friend fell from an e-scooter he was riding as they travelled along Carpenter’s Way between 8.30pm and 9pm on Monday of last week, reports Breaking News.
The teenager sustained serious injuries and was transported to St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The second person involved, an adult male in his late teens, was medically assessed at the scene and did not require immediate hospital treatment, reports Breaking News.
Parish Priest Fr Thomas Little told those gathered at The Holy Family Church, Askea, Carlow, for the 11am Requiem Mass: “We know that everybody here in the church and town that heard of the sudden and sad death of Janis were deeply saddened and shocked. His passing even made national news.
“We discovered that many other people have suffered terrible accidents from e-scooters. While e-scooters in themselves give a great sense of freedom, a great sense of exhilaration, and a great sense of being able to go from one place to another it also has serious implications because of safety requirements,” reports Breaking News.
During his homily, Fr Little appealed to the Road Safety Authority to “come together and make arrangements that they would become more safe, maybe slowed down a bit more, maybe wear clothing and a helmet. Things that would be needed for the e-scooter. There is no doubt that Janis loved the freedom of the e-scooter and was able to share it with his friends.”
He continued: “Janis was known in his Presentation Class for being easygoing and not overly concerned about being always first in the class at doing things, but took life leisurely as we should, reports Breaking News.
“He was loved deeply by his family — each and every one of them — and he contributed hugely to the family with his kindness and his endeavour by the great love and talent he shared at home. I know that it is certainly very difficult for his Mum, his family, his friends to deal with.”
Symbols of his life were brought to the altar, including a little bowl from Spain, reminders of happy days in slippers, scissors representing his ambition to become a hairdresser, and a jersey he loved, reports Breaking News.
A photograph of the young man was displayed on the altar as his oak coffin was carried by family members and friends.
In his eulogy, his brother Mark said Janis was “never alone during all the chaos of Monday evening and Tuesday morning,” reports Breaking News.
He thanked the “paramedics, Garda Abbie, doctors and surgeons for being there for us all. A special thank you to the organisers and for those who donated on the GoFundMe page. To all his friends, thank you for comforting my mother as you are hurting as well.”
Janis is survived by his mother Liga, brothers Roman, Mark, Sandris, Rihards and Ruslan, sister Kora and stepfather Ingus, reports Breaking News.
His burial took place immediately afterwards at St Mary’s Cemetery, Carlow.
Gardaà continue to appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them, with road users who have camera footage including dashcam from Carpenter’s Way around the time of the collision also asked to make it available to investigating gardaÃ, reports Breaking News.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station on 059 913 6620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Garda investigations are ongoing, reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
