A 12-year-old boy has died following a collision involving a train and a car at a level crossing in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, on Thursday night.
The 6.15pm service from Dublin’s Heuston station to Westport hit a car at a user-operated crossing at Kiltybo just before 9pm.
“A passenger in the car, a 12-year-old boy, was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the Garda said in a statement on Friday.
The driver of the car, a man in his late 40s, was taken from the scene by ambulance for hospital treatment. His injuries are not life-threatening.
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“All passengers on the train safely disembarked and onward transport was arranged,” the Garda statement added.
A technical examination of the scene will be carried out by specialists while the road remains closed.
The coroner has been notified and the boy has been removed to the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital, where a postmortem will be arranged.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward. Road users and pedestrians with camera footage who were in the area of Kiltybo between 8.15pm and 9.15pm on Thursday are asked to make it available to them.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballina Garda station on 096 20560, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Irish Rail said it expresses its “deepest sympathies to the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life at a level crossing in Kiltybo near Ballyhaunis yesterday evening”.
The line between Westport and Athlone has reopened as of 4.10pm on Friday.
Knock on delays are still expected on services on both the Westport and Galway lines and customers are advised to check www.irishrail.ie for updates.
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It was the second incident involving a vehicle being struck by a train at a crossing on the Westport line on Thursday.
Earlier, a train collided with a tractor when it was attempting to cross the rail line at another user-operated crossing near Tullamore, Co Offaly, at about 4pm. The train that struck the tractor was the 1.10pm Westport to Heuston station service.
Emergency services attended and one person was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
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Train services in both directions were suspended and passengers were bussed to Athlone to pick up other trains.
Chief executive of Iarnród Éireann Mary Considine said a full investigation into the incident is underway and further details will become clear as the investigation continues.
“On behalf of Iarnród Éireann I wish to express our sincerest sympathies to the family of the young boy who tragically lost his life in Ballyhaunis last night,“ she said. ”Incidents like these are extremely difficult for all involved. I would also like to convey my sincere appreciation to all those who responded with such professionalism and care at the scene, both the emergency services, An Garda Síochána and our own staff.
“Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and wider community in Ballyhaunis and with everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien described the incident as “awful news” on Friday.
“Obviously, my thoughts and deepest sympathies go to that family, the loss of a young 12-year-old boy, it’s an absolute tragedy,” he said.
“A full investigation is taking place right now, both through An Garda Síochána and our rail safety investigators as well.”
He said both incidents will be investigated.
“We have a very good safety record here in Ireland, notwithstanding what has just happened yesterday,” he said.
“Any incident, regardless how serious or how minor, is investigated in great detail.
“We have expert people to do that in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, and that will be done as a matter of priority.
“But it is extremely rare, and to have two incidents on the one line in one day, I can’t recall that before.
“As I said, our thoughts are really with the family and this terrible loss for them.”
Mayo TD Paul Lawless said the local community is in grief at the news.
“It is a terrible shock and a heartbreaking loss,” the Aontú TD said, adding that his thoughts are with the family of the boy who died.
A review of safety is needed for small rural crossings, he added.
