Brother and sister killed in crash

A YOUNG sister and brother lost their lives yesterday when the car which was dropping them to school crashed head-on with a lorry.

The driver of the car, a woman in her 30s who is believed to be their mother, remained in a critical condition last night after being transferred to Tallaght Hospital.

A third child has also been hospitalised and was last night being treated in the Midland’s Regional Hospital, Portlaoise.

The crash happened at 8.30am at Walterstown, near Nurney, Co Kildare, on a stretch of road described in the past by planners in Kildare County Council and An Bord Pleanála as particularly hazardous.

The boy, aged seven, was pronounced dead when emergency services arrived. His body was brought to Naas General Hospital.

His sister, aged eight, was taken to the hospital in Portlaoise. At 5.25pm gardaí confirmed she had died in hospital.

Meanwhile the woman was transferred to Tallaght Hospital. Her condition is critical and last night local priest, Fr Paul McNaMee was with her family at her bedside.

The driver of the lorry was not taken to hospital.

Gardaí immediately closed off the road to carry out a full technical examination and advised motorists to avoid the area.

Last night, gardaí said they would not be releasing the names of the two dead children until a later stage.