One dead in N8 road crash

One person has died and two have been injured in a crash between a van and a lorry in Co Laois.

Motorists are facing major delays after the crash, which happened at 7.10am at Clonad, on the N8 between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix.

The dead man was a passenger in the van. The drivers of the van and lorry were both taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital for treatment.

Drivers are warned to postpone their journey and to avoid the N8 Cork to Dublin road, which is closed between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix.

Diversions are in place via Mountrath, where there are long tailbacks, and via Ballyroan.

However, HGV drivers cannot use the diversion due to low railway bridges and are advised to use the Durrow Road through Ballycolla and over to the N7 for Mountrath and Portlaoise.

Gardaí do not expect to reopen the road before midday.