Father and son die in head-on crash, mother found injured at home

A three-year-old boy and his father were killed in a head on collision in Co Limerick on Tuesday just minutes after his mother suffered a broken arm and a number of stab wounds in a domestic dispute.

The crash involving a car and lorry on the N24 between Pallasgreen and Oola at about 8.30am.

The man was identified locally as Marco Velocci (28), originally from Italy but living in south Tipperary of late, and the boy as Alex Velocci.

A Garda spokesperson said it was too early to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the collision. However, a source said several witnesses had stated that the car appeared to veer across the road into the path of the lorry.

Gardaí are also investigating the assault on the boy’s mother which happened at a house in Oola at about 8am.

The woman suffered cuts and broken arm and was taken to University Hospital Limerick, where her injuries were said not to be life threatening.

Gardaí were notified of the collision at 8.32 am and three minutes later were contacted about the domestic incident in Oola.

Shocked

The lorry driver was not injured but was severely shocked. He was driving in the direction of Tipperary on the main N24 road when the collision occurred and the black Audi carrying the father and son was travelling in the opposite direction towards Limerick.

The section of the road where the crash took place was closed while a crash scene examination took place.

A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed and postmortems are expected to take place at Limerick University Hospital on Wednesday.

Gardaí appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact the gardaí at Bruff on (061) 382940, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

Local Fianna Fáil Councillor and Deputy Mayor Noel Gleeson said the entire community was devastated when news of the tragedy emerged.

“My sympathies go out to all the family’s on both sides of this awful tragedy.”