PEOPLE THROUGHOUT south Kilkenny and the New Ross area of Co. Wexford are trying to come to terms this week with the death of a young woman in her early 20s who died following a road traffic accident last weekend.

Sabrina Whelan, Ballavarra, Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, died when the vehicle she was travelling in was involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle on the R737 at Newcastle, Newbawn, at around 2 p.m. on Friday, September 13.

The male driver in the other car was not seriously injured.

Two units of New Ross Fire Service, along with Gardai and members of the Ambulance Service rushed to the scene but unfortunately, Ms. Whelan succumbed to her injuries.

The area was immediately sealed off for forensic examination by a Garda technical unit. The Fire Service personnel remained at the accident site with senior members of New Ross Gardai throughout the day while the forensic team did its work.

The road remained closed to the public until around 8 p.m. that evening.

A spokesperson for the local Gardai confirmed the two vehicles involved were travelling in opposite directions when the accident occurred.

“A forensic report is being compiled,” the Garda told The Echo.

Ms. Whelan comes from a very close and well respected family and her death has sent shock waves throughout the community. She was well known in the New Ross area and had many friends in the town.

The sudden and unexpected nature of her passing has left her family and friends reeling. The accident was the first of two very serious road traffic collisions that occurred in New Ross over the weekend.

In the second incident, which occurred later that same night, two cars collided near Albatros, in Rosbercon, New Ross.

Two people had to be removed from their vehicle by the Fire Service crew and were hospitalised following that accident, however, they were later discharged.

Ms. Whelan’s Requiem Mass will be held in the Church of the Assumption, the Rower, this morning, Tuesday, September 17, at 12 noon. Removal from her home will take place at 11.20 a.m.

Following the mass her remains will be buried in the Rower Cemetery.

She is survived by her heartbroken parents, Pat and Bridget, sisters, Lisa and Megan, brother, Dean, niece Keleigh, grandparents, uncles, aunts, relatives and large circle of friends.