Part of the M7 Dublin to Limerick road between Junction 27 Birdhill, Co. Tipperary and Junction 28 Castletroy, Co. Limerick has been closed, after a motorist lost his life in a 12 car pile-up around 8.00pm this evening.
It is understood that the victim, a man aged in his 50’s, suffered head injuries and died after his car left the road; crashing through a fence and ending up on waste ground, in a ravine just off the motorway between Birdhill and Castletroy.
A freak hailstorm is believed to have hit the area at the time of the incident, and may have been the major factor which led to the multi-vehicle collision. It is also understood that there were other injuries sustained by other drivers and their passengers involved, but thankfully in all cases these injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
A crew of fire fighters attached to Limerick City & County Fire Service, latter who had been attending a minor collision near Newport Co. Tipperary, were quickly on the scene of the multi-vehicle collisions. Same in turn summoned help from other crews from Newport & Nenagh in Co Tipperary and from Limerick city, with six ambulances from the region being dispatched to the scene.
The southbound traffic lane between Junction 27 Birdhill and Junction 28 remains closed awaiting a Garda forensic collision investigator to conduct a detailed examination of the scene at first light.
Traffic in the area is being turned around by Gardaí and full diversions are in place.
The body of the man pronounced dead at the scene was taken to University Hospital Limerick, where a post mortem will take place.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
[Anyone who may have witnessed the accidents are asked to contact Gardaí at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick, Tel: (061) 212 400.]
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