'Touch and go': Hit-and-run victim fights for life in Limerick hospital

A LIMERICK man was fighting for his life in hospital on Tuesday after he suffered “serious injuries” in a hit-and-run collision while out walking his dog on Sunday morning.

The shocking incident occurred in the SuperValu car park in Castleconnell. It is believed the injured party, who was on foot at the time, was struck by a silver BMW which was driven off at speed. 

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It is understood the victim, who was in the vicinity of another man, was not the intended target of the offending driver.

The man, aged in his 30s, and from the locality, received emergency first aid at the scene before being rushed to hospital. His clothes were cut off him during treatment. A garda spokesperson said he suffered “serious injuries”.

A local told the Leader: “He was in an induced coma and has swelling on the brain. He has fractures to his face, vertebrae and coccyx. His leg is in a bad way, they’re  hoping to do an operation on his leg on Tuesday. He’s stable but it could go anyway, it’s touch and go. The next few days will tell a lot. He has diabetes too.”

The victim, who works in Castleconnell, is described as “a nice fella, quiet and harmless”. “He was just out walking his dog on a Sunday morning - wrong place, wrong time,” said the local.

Gardai located the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run collision later on Sunday afternoon in a different car park in Castleconnell, near the Shannon River. The driver escaped on foot.

An attempt was made to burn out the car but it is understood that the BMW was not extensively damaged. It was towed away for technical examination by gardai. A major garda investigation is ongoing.

It is not known if the incident is linked to two attacks in Castleconnell in the space of 24 hours in August. Shots were fired at a house the day after a car was set alight and a home attacked.