A devastating traffic incident has claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy following a collision between a passenger train and a private car at a rural level crossing in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. The crash unfolded at approximately 8:45 p.m. local time on Thursday in the small community of Kiltybo, just outside the town of Ballyhaunis.
Local law enforcement with Gardaí, Ireland’s national police service, and multiple emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene immediately after receiving emergency calls about the crash. Of the two people inside the car at the time of impact, the 12-year-old passenger was pronounced dead by first responders on site. The driver, a man in his late 40s, was airlifted by ambulance to a nearby medical facility for urgent care; officials have confirmed his injuries are not considered life-threatening.
None of the passengers aboard the involved train suffered harm, and all were able to safely exit the vehicle following the collision. As of Friday morning, the local road remains closed to through traffic while official investigations get underway. Forensic Collision Investigators are scheduled to conduct a detailed technical examination of the crash site to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to the collision.
Irish authorities have notified the local Coroner’s office, and the boy’s remains have been transported to the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital. A post-mortem examination has been scheduled to confirm the official cause of death. In a public appeal, Gardaí are asking any members of the public who witnessed the incident, or who may have dashcam footage from the area around the time of the crash, to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.