Update: The R466 has reopened following this collision.
The victim has been named locally as Sergeant Andrew O’Riordan was originally from Co Cork but had been living in Broadfoard in East Clare.
The father of five had been stationed at Mayorstone Park in Limerick for over two decades and where the tricolour was raised to half-mast this morning following news of his tragic death.
In a post on the Limerick Garda Instagram this afternoon, tributes were paid to Sgt O’Riordan.
“An Garda Síochána in Limerick and colleagues across the organisation would like to express their condolences to the family of Sergeant Andrew O’Riordan (RIP) of Mayorstone Garda Station, Limerick, who passed away yesterday following a fatal road traffic collision.
A native of Blarney Co. Cork, Sergeant Andrew O‘Riordain was a well-respected member of An Garda Síochána who served proudly for 28 years in the Limerick area.
Our sympathies go out to Andrew’s wife Stephanie and their five children, parents Pat and Kathleen and sister Joanne.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to a fatal road traffic collision that occurred in Broadford in East Clare this evening.
Shortly after 5:30pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to reports of a single-vehicle collision involving a car on the R466 at Gortnaglogh a short distance from Broadford.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Scarriff and Killaloe stations as well as National Ambulance Service paramedics responded to the scene.
A male passenger in his 50s was pronounced deceased at the scene. It’s understood the victim was a member of An Garda Síochána who had been based in Limerick city.
The driver, a male also in his 50s, was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick by the HSE’s Cork-based Emergency Aeromedical Service air ambulance, Aeromed 01.
The road is closed for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and local traffic diversions are in place. The Coroner has been notified and the deceased has been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where post-mortem examination will be arranged.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the R466 at Gortnaglogh at the time of the incident are also asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on (065) 684 8100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Investigations are ongoing.