Man dies in Roscommmon road accident

Gardai in Roscommon have confirmed that a man in his 50s has died following an accident on the old Athlone to Ballinasloe road this morning.

Officers were alerted to the crash involving a 52-seater bus and a Mercedes car shortly after 10am, along the R446 route at Doohan, Ballydangan, less than a mile from Clonark Garda Station. The vehicles were travelling in opposite directions at the time of the collision.

According to Gardai, emergency services rushed to the scene but the male driver of the car was pronounced dead  a short time later. His remains have now been taken to Roscommon Hospital where a post mortem is expected to take place on Friday.

A female passenger in the car, aged 11, was taken to Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe with minor injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the bus and three other passengers on the bus were also taken to hospital for treatment of what have been described as non-serious injuries.

It's understood the deceased driver comes from the nearby East Galway area.

The road remains closed in both directions to facilitate a Forensic Collision examination and diversions are in place at Summerhill until later this evening.  Road users are asked to divert onto the new motorway and use alternative routes.

Anyone who saw the vehicles, a white Volvo bus or a beige Mercedes, driving along the route between 9.30 and 10.15am this morning is asked to call Roscommon Garda Station 0906638300 or Clonark Garda Station 0906437102 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.