Two teenage girls killed in Galway road crash

Two teenage girls were killed and two other people seriously injured in a road crash in Co Galway this afternoon.

The girls, aged 13 and 14, died when the car in which they were travelling lost control and crashed into a pole on the main N6 road, near Kilrickle village shortly after 2.30pm. 

They were among seven people in the car when it careered off the busy national road. It is understood they were members of a Muslim youth club from Dublin on an adventure holiday.

Three of the survivors were taken to Portiuncula Hospital while two others were taken to Galway University Hospital. Two are said to be in a critical condition.

No other vehicle was involved in the crash, according to investigating gardai at Loughrea. 

The road was sealed off after the crash as diversions were put into place.

Earlier, a pensioner was killed when the car he was driving collided with a van.

The 72-year-old man died in the crash at 10am on the Ennis-Ennistymon bypass in Co Clare.

Gardai at Ennis Garda station are investigating.

Meanwhile, provisional statistics from gardai revealed 564 suspected drink-drivers were detected over the last week.

Officers revealed a massive jump in drivers caught between St Patrick’s Day and Easter Sunday, compared to 390 drivers stopped at checkpoints during the previous week.

Motorists had been warned that garda patrols would be heightened over the two Bank Holiday weekends.

A spokesman said: “Garda enforcement activities in this area of road safety will continue to be prioritised.”

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