A BABY boy was killed and a six-year-old girl critically injured in a head-on crash on the N20 Limerick to Cork road yesterday.
The crash occurred at about 4.15pm on a straight stretch of road on the Charleville side of O’Rourke’s Cross in an area known as Rockhill Cross in Bruree, Co Limerick.
Thirteen-month-old Thomas Anthony O’Brien from Charleville, Co Cork, died when the Renault Clio car being driven by his mother Nicola O’Brien (19) was involved in a head-on collision with a Citroen Berlingo van travelling in the opposite direction towards Limerick.
There were three men travelling in the van, which was towing a trailer of calves at the time of the collision.
A six-year-old girl, who was also travelling in the Renault Clio, suffered serious head injuries.
She was being treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick last night where her condition was described as “critical”.
The baby boy was pronounced dead at the hospital and his mother, who was also taken to hospital, was said to be in a stable condition.
The female child is believed to be a friend of the family.
Two male passengers travelling in the Citroen Berlingo van were also taken to hospital where their condition was also described as “stable”.
The male driver of the van was not hospitalised.
The three men are believed to be from Patrickswell in Co Limerick.
The road where the crash occurred was closed for a number of hours yesterday and traffic diversions were put in place while gardaí carried out an examination of the scene.
Gardaí are still trying to determine how the collision occurred and Supt Tom Lundon of Bruff Garda station, who is leading the investigation, has appealed for witnesses.
“It appears it was a straight head-on collision and unfortunately a young child at the scene died,” he explained.
“We would appeal for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact the gardaí at Bruff,” he added.
Bruff Garda station can be contacted at 061-382940, and the public can also use the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111.
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, a young man died in hospital following a collision in the Elizabeth Avenue area of Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.
The 16-year-old male is believed to have been driving a motorcycle which collided with a van.