Man dies in horrific 12-car pile-up on M7 after ‘crank hailstone storm’
The M7 Dublin/ Limerick Rd has reopened southbound inbetween J27 Birdhill and J28 Castletroy following a serious collision.
The figure of the man who was pronounced dead at the scene has been taken to University Hospital Limerick where a post mortem will take place.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Gardaí.
By David Raleigh
Part of the M7 Dublin to Limerick Road has been closed after a motorist lost his life in a horrific 12-car pile-up tonight.
According to a reliable source, the man, aged in his 50s, suffered catastrophic head injuries and died after his car left the road inbetween Birdhill and Castletroy, shortly before 8pm.
It is believed a crank hailstone storm which is reported to have hit the area at the time of the incident, may have been a factor in the multi-vehicle collision.
M7 Southbound inbetween jctns 27, Birdhill & 28, Castletroy is presently closed due to a road traffic collision. Diversions are in place.
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) March 1, 2017
According to sources there are reports of “numerous injuries” to a number of casualties, but these injuries are not believed to be serious.
The deceased had been driving from Birdhill towards Limerick when his car left the road and crashed through a fence, a source said.
A “multi-agency response” is being carried out by emergency services.
At least six fire trucks containing crews from Limerick city, and Newport, Nenagh, in Co Tipperary, as well as six ambulances from the region, have been dispatched to the scene.
A squad of fire fighters affixed Limerick City and County Fire Service who had been attending a minor collision in Newport, were swiftly on the scene of the “massive pile up”, sources said.
Gardaí have closed the southbound traffic lane inbetween Junction twenty seven Birdhill and Junction twenty eight Castletroy and are awaiting a garda forensic collision investigator to conduct a detailed examination of the scene.
Gardaí, paramedics and fire crews were alerted to the area after receiving reports of a number of collisions in the area.
It is understood up to twelve cars skidded off the road around the the same time after a strenuous sleet shower struck.
“There was a massive snowball storm and a strong shower of sleet around the time of the fatal crash. There were at around twelve cars involved,” a reliable source said.
Cracking: A section of the M7 motorway inbetween J27 (Birdhill) and J28 (Castletroy) has been closed following a serious collision pic.twitter.com/D4GqG3Lk2O
— Limerick Leader (@Limerick_Leader) March 1, 2017
“The deceased’s car went off the road and crashed through a fence. His vehicle ended up on waste ground in a ravine just off the motorway.”
Traffic in the area was being turned around by Gardaí and diversions have been put in place.
Gardaí at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick, are investigating.
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