Woman dies, 13 injured in coach chase

An elderly woman has died after being knocked down by a coach involved in a garda chase on the Naas dual carriageway in west Dublin today.

The pedestrian was struck by the vehicle in the Bluebell area as it was being driven at high speed along the busy road.

Up to 20 patrol cars and the garda helicopter descended on the area after the coach smashed into a number of cars and drove for a time along the LUAS tracks.

The driver, who had stolen the empty vehicle from outside Heuston Station, also rammed five garda cars before eventually being apprehended in Rathcoole after a five-mile chase.

Five gardaí were injured during the drama, three of whom had to be cut from a patrol car that was struck by the runaway bus.

Eight other people were also hurt, but their injuries have been described as minor.

Services on the LUAS Red Line have been disrupted because of the incident, with trams only running between Connolly Station and Blackhorse until further notice.

Gardaí are also asking motorists to avoid the general area as they deal with the clear-up operation.