Mother and daughter, 8, latest to be killed on Irish roads — death toll reaches 97

The scene of the fatal traffic accident on the N26 road between Swinford and Foxford in Co Mayo.  Picture: Conor McKeown

A mother and her young daughter have become the latest fatalities on the country’s roads after the car they were travelling in collided with a lorry in Co Mayo.

The incident happened on the N26 at in Lismoran, Foxford, at approximately 5.45pm yesterday.

The woman, aged in her 40s, and her daughter, aged 8, who was a passenger in the car, were fatally injured in the crash.

They are understood to be from Mayo.

The driver of the lorry was taken to hospital with injuries that are understood to be non-life-threatening.

The bodies of the mother and daughter remained at the scene last night, as Garda forensic investigators began an investigation.

The scene of the fatal traffic accident along the N26 road near Callow between Swinford and Foxford Co Mayo. Photo Conor McKeown

Gardaí appealed for any witnesses to come forward or those with dashcam footage to make it available.

Fianna Fáil councillor John Caulfield extended his sympathies to the family of the deceased.

“Our thoughts and our prayers are with them,” he said. “This is so sad. This is the third fatality in Mayo this week alone. It’s frightening, really frightening.

“I’m living here for 60 years and I never heard of fatalities even though there is a huge volume of traffic going in and out of the area. There is no justification for this.”

He said the community will be on hand to support the family through the difficult months ahead.

“It is unimaginable to think what this family is going through,” he said.

“The thoughts of the community are with them. Indeed, they will have the support, but it will not replace this mother and daughter who tragically lost their lives. We can only offer them our prayers tonight. The community will be there for them.”

In a separate incident, a man in his 50s died following a single-car crash in Co Westmeath.

According to statistics from gardaí, 97 people have died on Irish roads so far this year. This is up 12 on the same period last year.