Man dies on M6 after he exits car and is struck by lorry

Gardaí have closed part of the motorway near Athenry, Co Galway

A Garda road closure close to the scene near Aclint Bridge in Ardee, Co Louth, after three women were killed and two men seriously injured in a road accident involving three cars. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday July 21, 2017. Gardai said one woman, aged 39, was driving one of the cars, and the two other women, aged 69 and 37, were passengers. See PA story ACCIDENT Deaths Ireland. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Gardaí closed part of the M6 motorway near Ballygarraun, Athenry, Co. Galway for forensic examination. File photograph

A man in his 50s was killed after he got out of his car following a collision and was struck by a truck on the M6 in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Gardaí closed part of the M6 motorway near Ballygarraun, Athenry, Co. Galway for forensic examination.

The incident happened at 5.10am between Junction 17 Athenry and the M17/M18 interchange.

A Garda spokeswoman said: “Following a single vehicle collision, the driver, a man aged in his 50s of the car exited his vehicle and was struck by a lorry.

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“He was fatally injured and his body has been removed from the scene to University Hospital Galway where a post mortem will take place in due course. The male driver, aged in his 50s of the lorry was uninjured.

“A technical examination of the scene is ongoing by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators this morning and the road remains closed with local diversions in place.”

Motorists are advised to take alternative routes.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist