A devastating road traffic collision has claimed one life and left a child in critical condition in the Republic of Ireland, according to official updates from local law enforcement. The accident, which involved a passenger car and a heavy goods truck, unfolded shortly after 5 p.m. local time on Friday along the R162 roadway in the Corclare area of Shercock, County Cavan.
The fatality identified was a woman in her 50s, who was behind the wheel of the car involved in the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, Gardaí, the national police service of Ireland, confirmed in a statement. A young girl traveling as a passenger in the same car suffered severe life-threatening injuries and has been transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment, where she remains in critical condition as of the latest update.
While several other people were travelling in the two vehicles involved, all other occupants only sustained minor injuries that did not require hospital admission, with first responders able to provide on-site medical treatment for those affected. No additional fatalities or serious injuries have been recorded in connection with the incident.
In the wake of the crash, investigators have closed the R162 route at the collision site to conduct full forensic collision examinations, which are standard practice to determine the cause and circumstances of the incident. Local transport authorities have put in place signed diversion routes for motorists to navigate around the closed section of road while the investigation proceeds.
Gardaí have now issued a public appeal for any road users or members of the public who were in the area at the time of the crash, and who may have witnessed the collision or captured relevant dashcam footage, to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.