A man in his 70s has died following a road traffic collision involving two cars in Co Westmeath on Monday.
Three others were injured in the incident, one of whom is believed to have been seriously hurt.
His death brings to 18 the number of people who have died on Irish roads this month, one of the worst Decembers on record.
Gardaí in Mullingar are investigating the collision, which occurred at Ballinalack on the N4 Mullingar to Longford Road at about 3.30pm.
The man in his 70s was the driver of one of the vehicles.
He was critically injured in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.
His body was removed to the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.
A female passenger in his car and two people in the second car were also injured.
The three were also taken to Midland Regional Hospital for treatment.
The road remained closed through the evening for examination by Garda forensic collision investigators.
Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses to the incident to contact Mullingar Garda station on 044-9384000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or to call in to any Garda station.
Tragic deaths
The man’s death brings to eight the number of fatalities on Irish roads since Christmas Eve, including two people in Northern Ireland.
Earlier the chief executive of the Road Safety Authority, Moyagh Murdock, described the road deaths during this year’s Christmas period as tragic and said it was clear that drivers were becoming complacent about road safety and were taking chances.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, she said that six families had lost loved ones over Christmas.
Ms Murdock said that “so many [drivers] are on local roads, areas they know very well.
“People think they are just going to go a short distance or they maybe didn’t plan on staying out, they’ve taken a few drinks, they’ve decided they can’t get a taxi home.”
Ms Murdock said this year had been showing positive trends in terms of road safety, but “all too quickly, all of that changes in a flash”.
She urged motorists and pedestrians to take responsibility. She said that drivers need to slow down and should never drink and drive.
