Fatal crash on the M8 in Tipperary

Photo © Pat Flynn

A man – thought to be in his late 70’s – suffered fatal injuries following a head-on collision on the southbound lane on the Mitchelstown side of Cahir.

The victim is understood to be from the area.

He was the sole occupant of the car – he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle escaped with minor injuries.

The crash happened just before 9 o’clock last night – Gardaí in Cahir are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 052 7445630.

There were delays of up to an hour in the wake of the collision.

The southbound lane of the motorway remains closed this morning to allow Gardaí carry out an examination of the crash site.

Diversions are in place between Junction 11 Cahir South and Junction 12 Mitchelstown North.

This is the third death on Tipperary’s roads this year – with all of them happening on motorways.

An elderly couple from Ballinaclough near Nenagh were killed in a 3-vehicle pile-up on the M7 near Birdhill in mid-January.