Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, famous for the film 'Once,' died in a motorcycle accident. He was 56.
On the 29th (local time), foreign outlets including The Guardian and the BBC reported, "Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle accident that occurred in Lucan on the outskirts of Dublin in the early hours of the day."
Hansard died in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident at Stouryberry Bess in Lucan, County Dublin, at around 4:30 a.m. that morning. He was known to be a frequent visitor to Lens Nest pub, where Trad 15, a traditional Irish music session, is held every Tuesday night.
Police said, "A man in his 50s who was driving the motorcycle received emergency treatment at the scene but was pronounced dead shortly afterward."
The accident occurred about 2 to 3 km from the pub where Hansard had been staying. Emergency services received the accident report just before 4:30 a.m.
The accident does not appear to have involved any other vehicles or road users, so no criminal investigation is underway. However, police plan to conduct a separate investigation to determine the cause of the accident and to prepare material for the coroner's inquest.
Hansard's agency, ATC Management, said in a statement, "With heavy hearts we announce that Glen Hansard passed away in the early hours of today. We are still coming to terms with this shock. We respectfully ask that the privacy of Glen's family, colleagues and friends be respected during this difficult time."
Glen Hansard was an Irish folk-rock musician and actor, and he also served as the frontman of the band The Frames. He gained worldwide recognition after the 2007 film 'Once,' in which he starred, became a box-office hit and was also popular domestically.
Hansard, together with his then partner Marketa Irglova, won the Academy Award for best original song for 'Falling Slowly,' the OST from 'Once.'
[Photo] Still from the film 'Once.'
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