Two Irish women seriously hurt in collision in northern France

Eight people injured in two-car crash in Normandy, local media reports say

T	wo Irish women are understood to have been injured in a crash in the in the Beaumont-en-Auge region (marked with red flag) in France. Image: Google Maps
T wo Irish women are understood to have been injured in a crash in the in the Beaumont-en-Auge region (marked with red flag) in France. Image: Google Maps

Two young Irish sisters are in hospital in Caen, Normandy, following a two-car collision on the A13 highway at Beaumont-en-Auge, in northern France.

The lives of the Dubliners, aged 22 and 18, are not in danger and a source close to the case said the prognosis is good.

They were part of an Irish family of eight which had just landed by ferry at Cherbourg with their Citroen C4 Picasso people carrier on Wednesday.

They were on their way to Paris when their vehicle was hit from behind by an Audi driven by a Frenchman (33), with his son (8) as passenger.

READ MORE

"The damage to their vehicle was very dramatic," said Laura Martin, a reporter for Ouest France newspaper.

The Irish family included a father (46), mother (45), the two injured daughters, sons aged 17, 14 and 12, and a four-year old girl.

The 22-year-old woman was the most seriously injured and was transported by helicopter to the University Hospital Centre in Caen, where her 18-year-old sister was also taken by ambulance.

“Their injuries are serious but not critical,” a gendarmerie officer said.

Forty firemen, seven ambulances and a helicopter were mobilised for the rescue. Traffic was stopped for 2½ hours.

Lara Marlowe

Lara Marlowe

Lara Marlowe is an Irish Times contributor