Crash death of man in his 80s is fourth road fatality in 24 hours

A man in his 80s has died in a crash in Co Westmeath, the second road fatality in the county and the fourth on Irish roads in the last 24 hours.

Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene of the two-car collision on the R394 at Gartlandstown, near Castlepollard, at approximately 5.30am on Wednesday.

The man, who was a passenger in one of the cars, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a woman in her 60s, was seriously injured and is being treated at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

The driver of the other car, a man in his 30s, is being treated at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar for non-life-threatening injuries.

His passenger, a man in his 20s, is also receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

The road is currently closed for technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators and local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to come forward.

Any road users who may have footage, including from a dashcam, and were travelling on the R394 between Mullingar and Castlepollard between 4.45am and 5.45am on Wednesday morning are asked to make it available to gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

The latest fatality comes a day after a man in his 40s died in a crash on Tuesday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene on the R395 at Teevrevagh.

Four people have lost their lives on Irish roads in the last 24 hours.

A woman and a child were killed when the car they were travelling in was involved in a crash with a lorry in Co Mayo.

The incident happened on the N26 at Lismoran, Foxford, at 5.45pm on Tuesday.

The driver of the car, a woman in her 40s, and a passenger of the car, described by gardai as “a female child”, died.

The lorry driver was taken to hospital with injuries that are understood to be non-life-threatening.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “(Since) yesterday, four lives have been lost on our roads.

“Four lives in the last 24 hours. And I know that communities in Mayo and in Westmeath have been devastated by the news of this loss of life.

“I know I join with everybody in this House in sending our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died.

“This tragically brings the number of lives lost on Irish roads already this year to 97.

“But of course no number can hide the reality in terms of the personal tragedy and upset.

“I just wanted to really acknowledge that as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the dangers on our roads.”

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said: “Can I also extend sympathy and solidarity to the families of those precious lives that were lost in Mayo and Westmeath.”