Tributes are being paid to a young medical student killed after a road collision in Co Kerry.
Nelia Scheeres was in her third year at UL’s Graduate Entry Medical School when tragedy struck on Monday.
The 24-year-old died after a collision between her car and a truck on the N69 at Pope's Cross just outside Tralee at around 1.15pm.
The young woman, who is from Canada, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was not injured in the incident.
Ms Scheeres is understood to have been returning from her first day on placement at a Kerry medical centre when the collision happened.
Originally from Ontario, she was in Ireland training to be a doctor, while her sister is also a medical student at the University of Limerick.
The President of UL, Professor Kerstin Mey, paid tribute to the young woman and said her thoughts were with Ms Scheeres' family, friends and classmates.
"It is my sad duty once again this week to make you aware of the heart-breaking passing of another cherished member of our community Nelia Scheeres, from Canada who was a Year 3 BMBS student of the School of Medicine," Professor Mey said in a statement, as the Limerick Leader reports.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nelia’s family especially to her parents Jan (Jaco) and Madine, her sister and fellow BMBS student Christi, her brother Ian and to her extended family and friends and fellow UL students.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis."
One friend paid tribute to the young woman, saying: "Nelia was a very close friend of mine. If there were a perfect person on this earth it was her. She was incredible, loving, selfless, beautiful inside and out. We’re all completely devastated from this news. Prayers for her family."
A local resident who heard the crash said: "I would ask you all who believe in prayer to pray for Nelia Scheeres who died tragically on the N69 on Monday. She was on her first day of placement at a medical centre and heading home for lunch. She wanted placement in Kerry as she loved it. She would have made a great doctor.
"Now I am jaded and mentally wrecked after the trauma of this week. I met a lot of Nelia’s friends and tried to help them as best my neighbours and I could. They are lovely young students and this tragedy has shaken so many. Thank you all for your support.
"She was friendly to everyone she met and never looked down on anybody - she would have made a perfect doctor."
Flowers have been left at the site of the tragic crash as people pay their respects to Ms Scheeres.
Gardai are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision to come forward with information.
Investigating gardai are asking any road users who were travelling on the N69 road on Monday afternoon and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) to make this available to them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tralee garda station on 066 710 2300, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
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