Those involved in a number of separate crashes on the M8 motorway yesterday afternoon had very lucky escapes.
The motorway was closed for a number of hours as a result.
The first crashes happened between Cashel and Cahir – involving 3 and 2 cars respectively.
Seven people were hospitalised following these crashes – all escaped with minor injuries.
The north and southbound lanes of the M8 were closed for a time.
Shortly after the motorway re-opened two more crashes happened on the southbound lane near the Horse & Jockey exit.
Two cars left the road and overturned – again the occupants suffered only minor injuries but the motorway was again closed for a time.
Heavy hail showers are thought to have been contributory factors in all of the crashes.