Ireland

Woman and two children killed in Co Mayo road collision

Three died after collision involving articulated lorry on the N17 near Claremorris

The scene of Tuesday's fatal crash on the N17. Photograph: Paul Mealey
The scene of Tuesday's fatal crash on the N17. Photograph: Paul Mealey
Tom Shiel
Tue Mar 26 2024 - 16:29

Three people died on Tuesday after their vehicle and an articulated lorry collided on the N17 near Claremorris, Co Mayo, shortly before 2pm.

The victims of the crash were a woman, who was driving, and two girls.

Their bodies are being removed to Mayo University Hospital for postmortem examinations. The lorry driver was uninjured.

No details as to the identity of the victims have yet been released, but they are believed to be from west Co Galway.

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The N17 at Castlegar, Claremorris, has been closed and local diversions are in place. Garda Forensic Collision Investigators will conduct an examination of the scene.

The vehicles involved are understood to have been travelling in opposite directions.

Gardai are asking any witnesses to the incident or motorists with dashcam footage to contact them. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Claremorris Garda station on 094 9372080, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

An Garda Síochána is also appealing that images of the crash scene scene currently in circulation are not shared.

This is the third fatal road traffic incident in the Claremorris area since the start of the year. Longford man Jimmy Rowe died in a single vehicle crash on the N17 at Lisduff, Claremorris, on January 21st, during Storm Isha. Terence Killeen, from Claremorris, died on Friday, January 5th, following a collision between two cars on the R331 at Belladaff, Tagheen.

Tuesday was described by the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council as “horrifically black day” for the county, after five people died in tragic circumstances. The deaths of the woman and children came shortly after a couple, Tom and Eileen Mahon, died in a house fire in Swinford.

Cllr Michael Loftus said it would “go down as one of the darkest days ever in Mayo”.

“Our hearts go out to all the bereaved families,” he said.

Cllr Loftus recalled the deaths of three generations of the Wilson family from Belmullet on the same stretch of road near Claremorris in September 2017. Marcella Wilson, a single mother who lived in Belmullet, her son Sean (7) and her mother Mary Ann died after the car they were travelling in collided with a northbound articulated lorry at Lisduff.

Concerns about the stretch of the N17 between Knock and Ballindine were sounded by coroner Pat O’Connor at a subsequent inquest into their deaths. Mr O’Connor said driving on the route was like playing “Russian roulette”.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris posted on X that it was “a devastating day for the people of Mayo”.

“Thinking of the families and friends of the woman and two girls who have lost their lives in Castlegar and of Tom and Eileen Mahon, who died in a fire in Swinford. A dark day. I know the community will rally to support all those grieving.”