One person has been hospitalised following a two-vehicle collision on the M18 at Crusheen this afternoon.
The incident occurred at around 2.20pm between the off and on-ramps in the southbound carriageway at exit 15.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis and Shannon stations responded to the incident along with National Ambulance Service paramedics and Gardaí.
The HSE’s Emergency Aeromedical Service air ambulance, operated jointly with the Irish Air Corps, was also tasked to the incident.
The crew of Air Corps 112 circled the scene for several minutes before landing in a field close to the scene. Conditions in the area at the time were poor with strong winds and heavy rain.
One casualty was transported by road ambulance the short distance to meet the helicopter medics. The injured man was later conveyed to hospital by road.
It’s understood that the three occupants of the second vehicle were left shaken but escaped serious injury.
The motorway was closed and traffic diverted up the off-ramp towards Crusheen Village however the route has since reopened.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the M18 southbound near Junction 15 at Crusheen, Co. Clare this afternoon. The incident involving two cars occurred at around 2.20pm.
A male was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non life-threatening. No other injuries were reported. The road which had been closed for a time has since reopened.”
Meanwhile, emergency services responded to a collision at Bunratty East, between Bunratty village and Ministers Cross at Deerpark.
National Ambulance Service paramedics and Gardaí responded to the two-car collision. As fire crews from the nearest station in Shannon were tied up with the collision on the M18 at Crusheen, units of Limerick City Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident.