LAST UPDATE | 16 Feb

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl who died following a two-vehicle collision in Co Tipperary yesterday evening has been named locally. 

At around 6.45pm, gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene of the two-car collision on the R503 at Rearcross.

A 15-year-old girl, a passenger in one of the cars, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. She has been named locally as Leah O’Meara. 

The three other occupants of that car (a man in his 20s, a woman in her 20s, and another female in her mid-teens), as well as the driver of the second car (a woman) were transported by ambulance to Limerick University Hospital.

Their injuries are not deemed to be life-threatening.

The teenage girl’s body has been transferred to the mortuary at Limerick University Hospital where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

The road was closed to facilitate examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, with local traffic diversions put in place.

In a statement, published by RTÉ, Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed, where Leah O’Meara was a student, said it was “shocked and saddened” by her “sudden and untimely death”. 

“Leah was a third-year student, had just completed her mocks, had a winning smile, she was involved in all aspects of school life and was so friendly and popular among her peers. She will be will be greatly missed by all who know her,” the school said. 

“Our priority now is the wellbeing and welfare of our students, parents and staff. The Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed critical incident team has met to coordinate a response and to enact the critical incident plan.”

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill remarked “there were an awful lot” of fatal collisions in the county last year.

Cahill sent his “deepest sympathies” to the family of the deceased and expressed hope that the four others who were injured can make a full recovery.

He added that the road is “very well-travelled” and has a lot of traffic.

“It’s a relatively good road and thankfully there hasn’t been a fatal accident in that part of the road for a long time,” said Cahill.

“The guards are investigating what caused it but whatever caused it, we have one family that is in deep mourning today and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to that family.”

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward and anyone with camera footage, including dashcam, from the area at the time is requested to provide it to gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station at 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

With reporting by Hayley Halpin