'Can happen to you', warns woman involved in collision
Méabh White has just finished her second year of pharmacy studies, almost a decade after she suffered severe injuries in a car collision.
She is 20, going on 21.
She has just finished second year pharmacy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and is looking forward to a bit of free time over the summer.
At least some of that time will be spent with her family in Co Roscommon: mum, Clodagh, and younger brother and sister, Rían and Sadhbh.
A decade is a long time in the life of a young person and it is almost a decade since Méabh's life was changed forever, in a matter of seconds.
On 9 July 2016, Méabh was on her way to a birthday party.
Her mum was driving with Méabh in the front passenger seat and Rían in the back of the vehicle in a rear-facing child seat.
At a crossroads half a kilometre from their home in Kilteevan, Co Roscomon, they were involved in a collision with another vehicle and their Renault Scenic was propelled through a two-metre wall into a field.
Méabh suffered the most severe injuries.
She had a cracked skull and intercranial haemorrhages, a fractured C1 vertebra in her neck, and she broke her back and her pelvis.
Méabh was transferred by helicopter to University Hospital Galway and from there to Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin.
She spent three days on life support and a week-and-a-half in intensive care.
When she finally woke up, Méabh was on a spinal board, staring at the ceiling.
Her mum was still in hospital in Co Galway, being treated for her serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
Méabh's brother Rían escaped serious physical injury. His rear-facing car seat - fitted only four days before - probably saved his life.
Méabh was watched over during this time by her grandmother, Teresa, in St Gabriel's Ward in Temple Street.
"I just remember saying to her, 'is this all I'm going to be able to see the ceiling, am I ever going to be able to see anything else again?'," she said.
At that time, Méabh was under the care of consultant neurosurgeon, Mohammad Sattar. He told her there was no medical reason to explain why she woke up.
She explained: "He just said to me: 'God was good in this case'."
'This kind of stuff can happen to you'
Méabh said it was a year or so before she started to return to herself. Initially, she used a wheelchair as she had to learn to walk again.
Then, there were the mental scars that had to heal, that took time too.
Today, Méabh is looking forward to enjoying the coming summer with her family. She embraces life with both arms.
And, when she has time in her busy schedule, she addresses road safety.
"I do it because there are so many teenage road deaths, so many young people dying on our roads," Méabh told RTÉ News.
She said: "They think they are titanium, they don't understand that this kind of stuff can happen to you, even if you aren't in the wrong.
"I was 12. I had my entire teenage years permeated with pain, permeated with the legal aftermath of the crash, the trauma, the physical injuries.
"I felt I was living two separate lives because obviously I was a teenager and there is so much to being a teenager without that on the side."
Méabh is due to attend the two-day Safer Roads conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, that is being held today and tomorrow.
The conference is not open to the public. Instead, it is drawing on experts from across Europe in the areas of road design, engineering, policing, enforcement, technology and education.
The conference will explore how artificial intelligence, and analysis of road collision trends and statistics can be used to improve road safety.
Almost 300 delegates and speakers are attending the event, which is being hosted by Kerry County Council
"Road safety is not just about the road or the vehicle but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent accidents," Kerry County Council's Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said.
"Every branch of the road safety tree is represented and our main aim is to improve road safety for every road user," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Motorcyclist, 50s, killed in Cork as gardai found him ‘unresponsive' this morning – as they launch urgent appeal
A MOTORCYCLIST has died following a fatal single-vehicle road crash in Cork yesterday - as gardai issue urgent appeal. The incident occurred on the R515 at Coolnagour between Milford and Dromcolliher, Advertisement 1 A man has died in Cork Credit: Alamy Gardai were alerted to a motorcyclist, a male in his 50s, who was found unresponsive this morning. They confirmed the man was pronounced The Coroner has been informed and a post-mortem exam will be carried out. The R515 is currently closed for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS Traffic cops have local diversions in place. Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward. A 'Gardai were alerted to a motorcyclist found unresponsive this morning on the R515 at Coolnagour between Milford and Dromcolliher, Co. Limerick. Advertisement Most read in Irish News 'The motorcyclist, a male in his 50s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. 'The Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. 'The road is currently closed for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place. 'Gardai are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward. Advertisement 'Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 1pm and 6pm on Saturday 21st June 2025 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. 'Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. 'Investigations are ongoing.' Separately, another Advertisement Police and emergency services rushed to the scene in the Tandragee area around 8.10am. The incident, on the Mullahead Road, involved a motorcycle and a Renault Scenic car. The motorcyclist, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene. Inspector Cherith Adair: 'Officers received and responded to a report of a collision involving a motorcycle and a Renault Scenic car at Mullahead Road shortly after 8.10am. Advertisement 'Colleagues from partner services were also in attendance. 'Sadly, a 25-year-old male motorcyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene.'
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Tributes paid to 15-year-old who drowned in Laytown, Co Meath
TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid to a 15-year-old boy from Dundalk who died by drowning after getting into difficulty in the river Nanny in Laytown, Co Meath. The boy has been named locally as Kofi Owusu, from the Blackrock area of Dundalk, Co Louth. It's understood that he had jumped into the river with a number of other children from the footbridge in Laytown when he got into difficulty in the river. The principal of Coláiste Chú Chulainn in Dundalk, Thomas Sharkey, said that the school is heartbroken over the loss of Kofi. He told RTÉ News Kofi was a 'fine young man, very kind, a very caring and a very diligent student.' Sharkey added that supports will be put in place for students and staff within the school community at this difficult time. The school posted a statement to social media which said that Kofi was a 'very caring young man with a wide circle of friends' and an 'accomplished sportsman'. Kofi had recently played in an All-Ireland basketball final and in a Leinster soccer final in his age group of under-16. He had finished his Junior Cert exams just ten days ago. Advertisement Junior Minister Thomas Byrne has said he was devastated to hear of Kofi's death. 'My heart goes out to his family, friends, all those who were around Laytown tonight, and all who are grieving. 'A summer moment has turned into an incalculable loss. 'Thank you to the Coast Guard teams, emergency services, and local volunteers who responded. 'Please respect the family's privacy and Gardai have asked to avoid sharing any images or details online,' he said. Local councillor in Laytown Carol Lennon told The Journal that the community is in shock following the tragic incident. 'Kids jump off that bridge every year, and I suppose no group thinks the worst is going to happen, and yesterday it did. Someone had actually raised safety concerns about jumping off the bridge during the week in the town, and now this has happened three days later, it is just awful. 'Everyone is thinking about the boy's friends and family at this terrible time. 'We need more affordable access to swimming lessons, and better water safety education through schools so children know what to do when it comes to public waterways, and also what the best thing to do is if someone you are with gets into difficulty, or if you yourself get into difficulty. There is basic knowledge there that we need to share, because it saves lives. 'Unfortunately in this case it's too late. This was a tragic, awful accident and support will be needed for the other boys who were there and witnessed this, who have lost their friend and been through something traumatic,' she said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Tragedy as man, 60s, killed in crash involving tractor as gardai make urgent witness and footage appeal
A MAN has died following a crash involving a tractor in Co Clare today. The incident, involving the pedestrian and a tractor, occurred shortly after 10.15am. 1 A pedestrian has died following a crash involving a tractor Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Emergency services and gardai rushed to the scene on the L7006 at Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. The pedestrian, a male aged in his 60's, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to University Hospital Cops are appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have camera footage. READ MORE IN NEWS A Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 684 8100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing.' The The spokesperson said: 'Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision on the L7006 at Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare this morning Saturday 21st June, 2025. Most read in Irish News 'Gardai and emergency services responded to the collision, involving a pedestrian and a tractor that occurred shortly after 10.15am. 'The pedestrian, a male aged in his 60's, was pronounced deceased at the scene. 'His body has been conveyed to University Hospital Limerick. The Coroner has been informed and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. 'The road is currently closed for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to take place. 'Gardai are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward.' Separately, a Police and emergency services rushed to the scene in the Tandragee area around 8.10am. The incident, on the Mullahead Road, involved a motorcycle and a Renault Scenic car. The motorcyclist, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene. Inspector Cherith Adair: 'Officers received and responded to a report of a collision involving a motorcycle and a Renault Scenic car at Mullahead Road shortly after 8.10am. 'Colleagues from partner services were also in attendance. 'Sadly, a 25-year-old male motorcyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene.'
