:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/ZJQOZUMSIUUCBUYAZBCGQCLCWA.jpg)
An 11-year-old boy is in a serious condition in hospital on Sunday night after a collision on a road in Co Galway on Sunday that killed his eight-year-old sister.
Gardaí named the dead girl as Bridget Ward and said her brother, Patrick had non-life-threatening injuries.
The children were cycling near their home on the R358 Ballinasloe to Ahascragh road just before noon, when they were struck by a car. It is understood the car also hit a tree but the occupants were uninjured.
The children were taken to Portiuncula Hospital where Bridget was later pronounced dead. The family were notified and went to the hospital.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/PVWLEUB7XMDFLO55DGPZ5SFPVI.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/NRPGY7CVEOHA64EN2FAQIGGPOE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/TJPU5RELR5KJR2EWYU2NBYFCK4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/2S5TBXL3DKADGVI5MSO7PZMI3A.jpg)
Gardaí are investigating the incident and the road remained closed on Sunday evening as forensic crash investigators examined the scene.
The collision occurred on a straight, undulating stretch of road not far from the roadside site where the children, members of a Traveller family, live. Weather conditions were good at the time of the incident.
Micheal Finnerty, a Ballinsaloe-based Fine Gael county councillor, who has been in touch with the family, said they were “in shock”.
“For this to happen at any time is bad; for it to happen on Easter Sunday is unimaginable,” he said. “This will resonate with everyone here for a long time.”
Fianna Fáil TD Ann Rabbitte said it was a “tragic” and “numbing” incident.
“You can’t imagine it. The whole place is absolutely stunned by it. On a beautiful Easter Sunday in Galway. It’s absolutely tragic.”
The crash happened a few kilometres from the scene of another incident, which led to the deaths of two local women, a year ago.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information about the collision to contact Ballinasloe Garda station on 0909 631890.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/e23497a4-11b8-483c-94f7-2871a9e21dab.png)
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/a19b5549-6951-423a-aac1-d24028685f17.png)