Gardaí are now appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision on the R628 Conna Road in north Cork.

The tragedy is believed to have occurred between sometime late on Friday evening and early on Saturday morning.

The man had left his workplace at a local healthcare facility late on Friday evening and was travelling home to get ready to meet friends.

However, he never arrived and his friends became concerned when they were unable to contact him.

Friends and workmates searched for him but it is understood a motorist noticed an apparent collision just off the R628 road.

A search of the area revealed the shocking discovery of a car partially submerged in the River Bride.

Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a car in the River Bride shortly before 10am on Saturday. The man was the sole occupant of the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

Indications are that he had been dead for a number of hours.

The male’s body was removed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The road remains closed pending a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Local diversions are in place.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

The incident is being treated as a freak tragedy.

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Saturday, December 20.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

Any road users, who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were traveling on the Conna Road R628 between 10:00pm on Friday 19th and 10:00am on Saturday 20th are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fermoy Garda Station on 025 82100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.