Man & woman, 40s, killed as young boy & man, 50s, rushed to hospital after horrific head-on crash on busy Waterford road

TWO people have died and two more – including a child – have been rushed to hospital after a horrific crash in Co Waterford this afternoon.

A man and a woman, both aged in their 40s and believed to be from the Leinster region, were sadly pronounced dead at the scene of the two-vehicle collision.

Two more people, a child and the male driver of the van, aged in his 50s, involved in the crash, were seriously injured and have been taken to University Hospital Waterford where they are being treated by medics.

Their injuries are believed to be non life-threatening.

The crash took place around noon today at Robin Hill on the Waterford to Tramore road when two vehicles were involved in a head-on collision.

Gardai were quickly on the scene along with units from Waterford city and county fire brigades, and advanced paramedics followed by ambulances and paramedics shortly after.

The road was shut as emergency services worked at the site.

Garda Forensic Collision Investigators have completed a technical examination of the scene and the road has since been reopened.

The injured were treated at the scene and it’s understood that firefighters had to use cutting equipment to free some of the occupants of the vehicles.

The local coroner has been informed and the bodies of the deceased have been taken to the morgue at UHW where post-mortems will be done by a State Pathologist.

Garda forensic traffic accident examiners are expected to conduct an in-depth examination of the scene and will try to determine what led to the collision.

Officers have urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

“Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 11.45am and 12.15pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Tramore Garda Station on (051) 391620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”

18 people, including nine drivers, seven pedestrians and two passengers, have already died on Irish roads this year.