A man is in a critical condition in hospital after his truck overturned following a five-vehicle collision near Mullingar Co Westmeath this morning.
The collision between three cars and two trucks occurred shortly after 9.30am on the westbound lane of the N4 near Junction 11 on the Longford-side of the Castlepollard exit.
The driver of the overturned truck was seriously injured in the collision and he was taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar where he remains in a critical condition.
Gardaí closed the N4, and traffic was diverted along the old Longford Road out of Mullingar throughout the day.
The road reopened before 7pm.
Road safety chiefs revealed that last month was the safest since records began more than 50 years ago, with 11 people losing their lives. This compared with a death toll of 24 for March 2009.
Gardai said 45 people have been killed so far this year - 22 drivers, six passengers and 17 pedestrians - nine fewer than in the same period last year.