Cyclist killed in Dublin crash involving truck driver had only arrived in Ireland
Johnny Santos Xavier De Abreu (27) was cycling to classes when he was killed in Dublin city centre. He had only arrived in Ireland a few weeks ago
A cyclist killed on Dublin's O'Connell St has been named as Johnny Santos Xavier De Abreu, a 27-year-old Brazilian man who had only arrived in Ireland in recent weeks. His sister, Isabela Xavier, paid tribute to him, saying he had come to Ireland to follow his dream.
“My heart is breaking,” she said. “Thank you for everything. For being who you were, and for being the best uncle my daughter could have asked for. I’ll love you from here to eternity. I’m speechless.
“I can’t even find the words to speak. He’s gone. It was a tragic accident, a complete tragedy what happened to him. He went there to study and to work as well.
"He was actually on his way to school when it happened. My mum always told me that a child is prepared to bury a mother, but a mother is never prepared to bury her child.
“I’m at my mum’s now and she is literally distraught. Just imagine your son dying, guys. Twelve hours away – a twelve-hour flight – in another country, so far from her.”
From São Vicente, on the coast of São Paulo, Santos was killed on Wednesday afternoon at the junction of O'Connell St and Middle Abbey St in Dublin's north inner city in a crash involving a driver in a truck.
He had spent time living in Europe, before going back to Brazil for a time and the returning to Europe. He had been in Ireland only since March 10th.
His death was the second fatal crash involving a cyclist on the roads of the Republic since the start of the year. A man cycling was killed in Balbriggan last month in a crash involving a driver.
"Shortly before 1pm, gardaí and emergency services were alerted to the incident involving a truck and a cyclist," a Garda statement said of Wednesday's fatal incident.
"The male cyclist, aged in his 20s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The local coroner has been notified and arrangements will be made for a post-mortem examination."
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the fatal crash to contact the investigating officers at Store St station in the north inner city.
Anyone with camera footage - including dash-cam - recorded in the area of Middle Abbey Street and O’Connell Street between 12.30pm and 1.30pm is asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on (01) 6668000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
