A number of tourists and a driver were injured following a multiple-vehicle collision including a coach and a truck transporting a crane in a popular area of Kerry on Tuesday morning.
The driver of the coach was airlifted to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries following the incident at Loo Bridge on the R569 about 13km outside the village of Kilgarvan shortly before 11am.
Eight people in total are understood to have been injured, with an unknown number brought to hospital.
Kerry County Council has diverted traffic bound for Kenmare to the Molls Gap road, a lengthy detour expected to be in place for some time.
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Emergency services including up to seven ambulances and fire services from Kenmare, Killarney and Macroom attended the scene.
It is understood the front window of the 52-seater coach carrying 29 adult passengers was broken by a part of the crane.
Some of the passengers were treated for injuries at the scene while others were moved to another bus.
In a statement, gardai said the road would remain closed on Tuesday afternoon.