'My world fell apart' - Road crash victims remembered

Fighting back tears, Patricia Gibbons recalls the day her husband was killed.

Twelve weeks pregnant at the time, the Offaly woman said breaking the news to her six-year-old son Conor was the hardest part.

"How do you tell a child your Daddy is not coming home? I'll never ever forget it," she said.

Twenty-eight-year-old James Gibbons died instantly on 17 January 2008, when the lorry he was driving for an agricultural contractor and haulage company collided with another truck outside Roscrea in Co Tipperary.

The other vehicle was deemed to be unroadworthy.

"That morning James got up and he gave me a kiss and said he would chat to me later and then he went and kissed Conor goodbye".

Later that morning, Patricia was at work in a local shop in Mucklagh when word came through about a serious accident.

She tried to phone her husband but got no answer.

Shortly afterwards, Patricia's father arrived at the shop where he broke news of the accident and they went to Tullamore Garda Station, where it was confirmed James had been killed.

James and Patricia were married just eight months when he died and she was 12 weeks pregnant with their second child.

The couple were living in Rahan, Co Offaly.

James, a native of Trim in Co Meath, met Patricia when she was working on a farm placement in Trim.

"My whole world fell apart there and then but I had to keep going, I had Conor and I was pregnant" she said.

"We came home from Tullamore and all the neighbours were in my mother's house. I brought Conor down to a bedroom and I sat him down and I explained that his Daddy had been in an accident and he wasn't coming home"

In the days and weeks after the crash, Patricia said everyone rallied around the family.

"Everyone was fantastic but it was hard. I was pregnant. I had to go to scans without James"

"The Thursday before the accident we went to the scan and everything was fine. James wanted to buy the buggy. I thought it was too early but he insisted. He was so excited but he never got to see David, use the buggy, nothing".

On World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Patricia is appealing to people to think twice about their actions on the road and the consequences they can have.

Tragically, 152 people have been killed on the roads so far this year.

Last year, 184 people died in fatal collisions on Irish roads.

Patricia said the heartbreak and devastation for those left behind is immeasurable.

"I would never want anyone to get that knock on the door or that phone call"

"The boys have grown up. Conor is 23 and David is 16. Life is busy but James is never forgotten. We talk about him every day," she added.

As events take place across the country today to remember those killed and seriously injured in road collisions, Patricia said everyone needs to take responsibility on the road.

"I'm just asking people to slow down and please think before you get behind the wheel. Is that call or text worth it? Put the phone away, leave on time and don't be distracted." she said.

"Life can be taken away in an instant. It's not until that knock comes to your door that you understand and I understand because I've got that call".