Two injured, one seriously, after Clare crash involving car and horse

The man and woman who were in the car were treated at the scene before being rushed to University Hospital Limerick

The road is expected to remain closed for most of the morning pending completion of an examination of the scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Two people have been injured, one critically, following a road traffic collision on Tuesday morning on the outskirts of Ennis in Co Clare.

The incident, which involved a car and a horse, happened at around 3am on the N85 Ennis Western Relief Road between the Kilmaley Road and Rocky Road (Icarus) roundabouts.

Gardaí, National Ambulance Service paramedics, and units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis all responded to the incident.

The passenger of the car, a woman in her 40s, was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for treatment of serious life-threatening injuries.

The driver, a man also in his 40s, was also conveyed to UHL for treatment. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

The road is expected to remain closed for most of the morning pending completion of an examination of the scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

The Ennis Western Relief Road connects the M18 motorway with routes to West and North Clare. Diversions are currently in place and motorists are asked to allow extra time for their journeys.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward.

"Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N85 near Cahercalla More between 2:45am and 3:15am on Tuesday 14th October, are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

"Anyone with any information should contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."

The spokesperson said investigations are ongoing.