A 12-year-old boy has died after the car he was travelling in was struck by a train at a level crossing in County Mayo.
The collision happened in the townland of Kiltybo, near Ballyhaunis, at about 20:45 local time on Thursday evening.
Gardaí (Irish police) and emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the crash. Despite their immediate efforts, the young boy was pronounced dead at the location. The driver of the car, a man in his late 40s, was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Authorities have confirmed that his injuries are not life-threatening.
All passengers on board the train were unharmed and safely disembarked after the impact.
A full technical examination of the scene is now underway. Forensic Collision Investigators are carefully piecing together the events that led to the crash, and the road in the area remains completely closed to the public while they work.
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The Coroner has been officially notified of the death. The boy’s body has been moved to the mortuary at Mayo University Hospital, where a post-mortem examination will be arranged in the coming days to help clarify the exact circumstances of the collision.
Local police are now urgently appealing for help. Gardaí have asked anyone who was in the area on Thursday evening, or anyone who may have dashcam footage, to come forward and share what they saw.
For the quiet community of Ballyhaunis, the sudden closure of the crossing and the heavy presence of emergency vehicles are a grim reminder of how quickly an ordinary evening can turn into a permanent tragedy. As the investigation continues, a family is left to mourn a child who should have had his whole life ahead of him.
Promise Idoko is Junior Reporter working with moderncrux He covers global politics and international affairs. Based in Nigeria,
