Update:
A second collision occurred close to J15 at Crusheen however no one was injured.
Later, a car overturned and came to a stop on its side on the M18 southbound between Gort and Crusheen.
Two units of the fire brigade from Gort and three from Ennis responded to the incident along with an ambulance and gardaí. The sole occupant of the car escaped serious injury.
Four people escaped injury after two cars crashed in poor conditions on the M18 in Co Clare this morning.
Two BMW cars collided at Junction 14 (Barefield) shortly before 11.00am following a heavy downpour of hailstone.
It’s understood that one car spun out of control and the second crashed into it while attempting to avoid a collision.
Both cars then hit the crash barrier while one vehicle spun around the corner onto a slip road. The off-ramp at Junction 14 for Barefield village was left blocked following the incident.
A passing private ambulance stopped at the scene to assist the occupants of the cars. Gardaí and Traffic Infrastructure Ireland (TII) motorway crews also attended the incident.
There was a male and female in each car and all were checked by paramedics with one woman receiving treatment in the rear of the ambulance. No one was seriously injured.
#CLARE Crash in hard shoulder and left lane of slip road from M18 Limerick/Galway Rd northbound to Ennis Rd (R458) at J14 Barefield. https://t.co/PSzIBsvOzE
— AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 16, 2018
The slipway was reopened after the vehicles had been towed from the scene and the area cleared of debris. Gardaí from Ennis are investigating the collision.
There are three weather warnings in place in the county including for wind, snow/ice and flooding. Gardaí are advising motorists to drive with care.