Scarred: Marie Maher, who lost her husband Eugene in a fatal road crash, with her grandson Ollie Foy (3) at the RSA ceremony. Photo: Robbie Reynolds

Marie Maher was at home and had just finished preparing dinner when she got the phone call that changed her life forever.

Her husband Eugene (62) died after being knocked off his bike on a summer evening in Clontarf, Dublin, on June 30, 2015.

Marie had been at home and had just finished preparing dinner when she got the phone call that changed her life forever.

The mother of two from Drumcondra was among the bereaved loved ones of people who lost their lives on our roads attending a special Road Safety Authority (RSA) ceremony in Dublin ahead of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on Sunday.

Now she is urging motorists to think about the devastating consequences of reckless driving after her husband of 37 years was killed in a hit-and-run accident.

“It was just like any other evening when I received a call from my husband’s phone. I thought he had got a puncture and needed me to pick him up,” she said.

Expand Close Lisa Marie Maher, from Dublin who lost her Father Eugene Maher in a fatal road crash, pictured with her son Ollie Foy, age 3 at the RSA World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Launch held today in Smock Alley, Dublin. Pic. Robbie Reynolds / Facebook

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Whatsapp Lisa Marie Maher, from Dublin who lost her Father Eugene Maher in a fatal road crash, pictured with her son Ollie Foy, age 3 at the RSA World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Launch held today in Smock Alley, Dublin. Pic. Robbie Reynolds

“However, it wasn’t Eugene on the other end of the line, but a paramedic saying he had been clipped off his bike and for me to come to Beaumont Hospital.”

Ms Maher didn’t panic as the paramedic’s tone didn’t hint at the seriousness of the situation.

When she arrived at the emergency department, she was expecting to see her husband of 37 years with a “broken arm or leg” but instead there was no sign of him. “I was in total shock when the neurosurgeons explained there was nothing they could do for him,” she said.

“Within an hour, he was taken to ICU and died a short time later. It took me a very long time to realise what was happening, and I even woke up the next day thinking I had been dreaming.”

Ms Maher, who runs a successful floral studio from her home, added that many motorists still don’t realise the lifelong damage they can inflict in a split second.

“My whole life turned upside down the day Eugene died,” she said. “He was taken away from me and my two children in a blink of an eye. I’m appealing to anyone who gets behind the wheel to be constantly vigilant of those around you because no one knows the damage they can cause until it’s too late,” she said.

Another tragic case recounted at yesterday's RSA ceremony was Co Cork native Elber Twomey.

The young woman has devoted her life to promoting road safety and better resources for police training after the tragic death of her husband, Con (38), her 16-month-old son, Oisín, and her unborn baby girl, Elber-Marie in a collision in Devon on July 6, 2012.

The tragedy was caused by suicidal Polish taxi driver, Marek Wojciechowski (26), who deliberately rammed their Volkswagen Golf outside Torquay as they were travelling back to Ireland.

"Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go with regards to road safety in this country," she said.

"Anyone that speeds or drives in a reckless way is literally putting their own life and the lives of others on the line.

"I just hope that people listen to my own story and the ones of others here today, and become more careful motorists as a result.

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Irish Independent