Girl, 3, survives crash that kills aunt

A three-year-old girl has survived a car crash that took the life of her aunt after the vehicle they were travelling in struck a packed long-distance bus.

Eleven other people, including 10 Bus Éireann passengers and their driver, were taken to hospital after the incident, which occurred at about 6.10pm on the N3, on the Kells side of Navan, Co Meath.

It is understood the crash occurred when one of the vehicles veered onto the wrong side of the road.

The woman who lost her life was 32 and was driving the car. She was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda but medics were unable to save her life.

Her only passenger was a three-year-old girl, believed to be her niece, who survived with injuries described by gardaí as “not life-threatening”.

Bus Éireann said while its 5pm, route 109 service from Cavan to Dublin had 53 passengers, only 10 of them and their driver needed to be taken to hospital. They are believed to be suffering minor injuries, with most sent home by last night. A Bus Éireann spokesperson said road conditions were normal and the company was co-operating with investigating gardaí.

The road was closed for a number of hours as Garda forensic collision investigators examined the scene.

* Anyone with information is asked to contact Navan Garda Station, 046 9079930, or the Garda confidential line, 1800 666111.