(Irish Rail. Photo by BBC News)
A twelve-year-old boy has died following a collision between a car and a train at a level crossing in County Mayo, Ireland.
The incident occurred at Kiltybo near Ballyhaunis shortly after 8:45 pm on Thursday.
The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the car, a man in his forties, was taken to hospital for treatment.
His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
No one aboard the train was injured.
The road remained closed as of Friday morning.
Irish Rail issued a statement expressing its thoughts for everyone affected by the incident.
The rail operator arranged replacement buses from Westport to Athlone beginning around 8 am Friday.
Ireland’s police service, An Garda Siochan, is appealing for witnesses to come forward.
The boy’s remains were removed to Mayo University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
This collision was the second incident on the Westport to Dublin line on Thursday.
Earlier that day at around 3:50 pm, a train struck a tractor at a level crossing at Meelaghans.
A man in his forties was taken to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore following that incident.
His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
Bus transfers were arranged for passengers after that collision.
