Woman and two children killed in collision involving car and lorry in Co Mayo

The road where the accident occurred is closed to traffic, and local diversions have been put in place. File Picture

Three people have died after a car collided with an articulated lorry on the N17 near Claremorris, Co Mayo.

The crash happened shortly before 2pm on Tuesday afternoon.

The driver of the car, a woman, and two young girls who were passengers in the car sustained fatal injuries in the accident. 

Their bodies have since been removed to the morgue at Mayo University Hospital for autopsies.

No details as to the identity of the victims have yet been released but they are believed to be from west Co Galway. No other injuries were reported. 

The vehicles involved are understood to have been travelling in opposite directions. 

The road remains closed pending an examination of the scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions have also been put in place. 

In a statement on Tuesday evening, gardaí said they were aware of images of the crash circulating on social media and urged people not to share them out of respect for the families. 

Investigating gardaí also issued an appeal for witnesses.

Any road users with camera footage from the area at the time have been asked to make this footage available. 

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Claremorris Garda Station on 094 9372080, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

'A horrifically black day for Co Mayo'

Speaking in the wake of the crash, and the deaths of a couple in a fire in the Co Mayo town of Swinford, Cathoirleach of Mayo County Council Michael Loftus said Tuesday was "a horrifically black day" for the county.

“March 26, 2024 will go down as one of the darkest days ever in Mayo”, Councillor Loftus said.

“Our hearts go out to all the bereaved families.

“The N17 tragedy brings to mind the terrible accident in 2017 when three generations of a Belmullet family, the Wilsons – a grandmother, her daughter and her grandson – lost their lives on the same stretch of roadway between Knock and Ballindine," he added. 

Concerns about the stretch of N17 primary route between Knock and Ballindine where the Wilsons were killed in 2017 were sounded by the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Pat O’Connor at a subsequent inquest into their deaths.

Mr O’Connor, highlighting dangers posed by junctions said driving on the route was “like playing Russian roulette”.