A MAN remained in a critical condition in hospital last night after his truck overturned following a five-vehicle collision near Mullingar, Co Westmeath yesterday morning.
The collision between three cars and two trucks occurred shortly after 9.30am on the westbound lane of the N4 near Junction 11 on the Longford-side of the Castlepollard exit.
The driver of the overturned truck was seriously injured in the collision and taken to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar. Emergency services treated the other motorists at the scene.
A significant amount of sand spilled from the truck on to the road and gardaí closed the N4 in both directions between the Junction 11 Castlepollard and the Old Longford Road Junction. Traffic was diverted along the old Longford Road out of Mullingar via Killucan (R156) as a result.
Road safety agencies said last month was the safest since records began more than 50 years ago, with 11 people losing their lives. This compared with a death toll of 24 for March 2009.
The Garda has said 45 people have been killed so far this year – 22 drivers, six passengers and 17 pedestrians – nine fewer than in the same period last year.
