A man in his 80s has been killed in a three-vehicle collision in Co Galway that left three others injured.
The incident, which was the second serious road crash reported on Thursday, occurred just before 1pm at the intersection of the M6 and M17 near Athenry.
The driver of one of the cars was killed and pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, a woman in her 80s, was seriously injured and is receiving treatment in Galway University Hospital.
The two women driving the other two cars, aged in their 20s and 60s, were also taken to Galway University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The road was closed for much of the afternoon as forensic collision investigators examined the scene. It has since reopened.
Gardaí in Galway are appealing for witnesses to come forward. A spokesman said they are also appealing “to any road users that may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at this time to make this footage available to Gardaí”.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda station on 091 538000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
An hour after the Galway crash, a male pedestrian in his teens received serious injuries after being hit by an SUV in Co Offaly.
The incident occurred at Church Road, Tullamore, at about 2.15pm.
The pedestrian was taken to Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore with serious injuries, according to gardaí. The driver of the SUV was not injured.
The road was closed and local diversions were put in place while the scene was examined by Garda forensic collision investigators.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the crash, or anyone who may have dash-cam footage, to contact Tullamore Garda station on 057 9327600, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.