An elderly man in his eighties has tragically lost his life, with several more injured and hospitalised after a two-car crash in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, which happened on Wednesday morning around 5:30 on R394 in Gartlandstown. The elderly man, who had been a passenger, sadly passed away at the scene of the accident.
In the last 24 hours, this tragic event accounts for the fourth road-related death, following a horrific accident in Mayo the previous evening where a woman in her forties, along with her young daughter, tragically lost their lives after their car crashed into a lorry. A further incident occurred nearby on the R395 at Teevrevagh when a single-car crash resulting in the fatality of a man in his fifties.
The woman who was driving the car, a lady in her sixties, has been rushed to the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore due to severe injuries. Additionally, a younger man in his thirties and his passenger, a man in his twenties, who were in the other car involved in the crash, have been transported to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar for medical attention. Fortunately, their injuries are presently not considered life-threatening.
Currently, the involved road is closed for a technical examination supervised by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and local detours have been arranged. They encourage witnesses of the incident to step forward.
They have requested anyone travelling on the R394 between Mullingar and Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, from 4:45 to 5:45 on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024 morning, who might have recorded footage (including dashcam) to share it with the Gardaí. This year, Ireland’s roads have already seen 97 fatalities, this shows an increase of 12, compared to the data from the equivalent period of 2023.
The bulk of the deceased, 35, were drivers, followed by 22 passengers, and further 21 pedestrians and 12 motorcyclists. Five of these fatalities were cyclists, while an E-scooter was involved in the remaining two deaths.