Update
3.00pm – The N85 Ennis to Ennistymon has now been fully reopened.
The man killed in the collision has been named locally as 67-year-old Conor Tuohy, a former member of An Garda Síochána and well known musician in North Clare.
11.45am – The N85 road is not now expected to reopen until later afternoon, possibly 5.00pm.
Garda Forensic Collision Investigators are continuing their examination of the scene and this will continue through the afternoon.
Garda are advising that diversions are in place and motorists are asked to observe the road signs where Gardaí or council staff are not on duty.
7.30am – The N85 will remain closed at Ballyea, Inagh following the earlier fatal road traffic collision.
Garda forensic collision investigations are expected to complete their examination of the scene on Saturday morning before the scene is cleared and the road is reopened.
Earlier: One person has died and two others injured in a road traffic collision in Co Clare this afternoon.
The three vehicle incident shortly after 1.00pm on the N85 Inagh to Ennistymon road about five kilometres from Inagh village. It’s understood that the collision, which involved two cars and a van, occurred close to a junction at Ballyea, Inagh.
National Ambulance Service paramedics; Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennistymon station and Gardaí responded to the scene. The driver of one of the vehicles, a man in his 60s, was critically injured and later pronounced dead at the scene.
It’s understood that the Athlone-based National Ambulance Service/Irish Air Corps Emergency Aeromedical Service air ambulance was dispatched to the scene but was stood down enroute.
The man’s body has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. The female driver of the second car and a man travelling in the van were taken to hospital in Limerick with non-life-threatening injuries.
The road at the scene is currently closed to facilitate examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators while traffic diversions are in place.
Investigating Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to come forward. They are also appealing to those with camera footage (including dash cam) from the area at the time, to make it available to them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Kilrush Garda station on 065 908 0550, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.