'Truly heartbreaking'... Cathaoirleach's shock at road fatalities and injuries on dark day for Co Meath

The Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council has described the loss of life on Meath roads today as "truly heartbreaking."

Cllr Wayne Harding was reacting to the news that two people died and a number of people seriously injured in two separate accidents just hours apart.

“On behalf of Meath County Council, I wish to express our deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in the tragic road traffic collisions on the N51 at Boyerstown and on the M3 at Dunshaughlin over the past 24 hours.

“Our thoughts are also very much with those who have been seriously injured in these incidents, including those involved in a third serious road traffic collision on the N51 Athboy Road, and we hope for their full recovery.

“These truly heartbreaking events will undoubtedly have a profound impact on communities across Meath, and we extend our sincere condolences and support to everyone affected at this difficult time.”

Gardai are investigating the fatal collisions on Meath roads today, one on the M3 which occurred just after 2am and later on the N51 Athboy Road outside Navan this morning at approximately 7.45am.

In the first incident, Gardaí and emergency services responded to the incident, which involved a truck and a van and occurred shortly after 2am.

The driver of the van, a man in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been removed to Navan mortuary and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The driver of the truck was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown as a precaution.

The northbound lanes between Junctions 5 and 6 were closed for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

It is understood that two vehicles were involved in the collision on the N51 Navan to Athboy Road at the junction of the L1014 old Athboy Road.

Gardaí and emergency services responded to the two-car collision which occurred at approximately 7:45am.

A woman (aged in her 40s) who was a passenger in the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has been removed to Navan mortuary and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course. The Coroner has been notified.

A female juvenile (aged in her teens) who was a passenger in the same car has been airlifted to Children’s Hospital Ireland, Temple Street, for treatment of serious injuries.

The driver and a third passenger (both female, no details on ages at this time) were brought by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda with serious injuries.

The driver and sole occupant of the second car was brought to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The N51 at Boyerstown was closed for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed either collision to come forward.

Reacting to the shocking news, Senator Linda Nelson Murray said it was a "dark, dark day for the county"

"It just sends a shiver down your spine. You know, you're thinking of work colleagues, you're thinking of parents, you're thinking of school friends and you're thinking of even the paramedics, the fire brigade, everybody who comes on those scenes.

"And we learn the devastation that so many families have had to deal with what's happened now today with the deaths from both accidents. It just doesn't bear thinking about and even to the people in the hospitals that have to, you know, deal with that trauma, work on the people who have survived and and do their best for them. And it just brings everything back into perspective.

"The road conditions today were absolutely horrendous. The weather was so bad, the wind and the rain. And and for these tragedies to happen is just it's soul destroying, to be honest. My thoughts are with everybody that knows these people and what can you say, just a dark, dark day for County Meath."