Appeal after man’s body found in burned-out car on M4

Garda investigations show car caught fire on motorway in Co Westmeath

The scene of the  car fire on the N4 near Kinnegad yesterday afternoon in which a man in his 50s died. Photograph: Martin Territt/The Irish Times
The scene of the car fire on the N4 near Kinnegad yesterday afternoon in which a man in his 50s died. Photograph: Martin Territt/The Irish Times

Gardaí have issued an appeal after finding a man’s body in a car which caught fire on a motorway yesterday.

Initial investigations by gardaí show the car caught fire on the M4 in Co Westmeath.

The incident took place on the eastbound lane of the M4, one kilometre from Kinnegad at about 4pm. Gardaí said the car is a dark coloured Opel Zafira.

Gardaí have appealed to motorists who may have seen the car driving erratically  to contact Mullingar Garda station. Image: Google Streetview
Gardaí have appealed to motorists who may have seen the car driving erratically to contact Mullingar Garda station. Image: Google Streetview

Gardaí believe that the man found in the car was in his early 50s.

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His body was removed from the vehicle and brought to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

A full postmortem is to be carried out on the body today .

A stretch of the N4 was closed off last night as a Garda forensic examinations continued.

Gardaí have appealed to motorists who may have seen the car driving erratically or may have information to contact Mullingar Garda station on 044-9384000.

Genevieve Carbery

Genevieve Carbery

Genevieve Carbery is Deputy Head of Audience at The Irish Times