LAST UPDATE | 29 Feb 2020

THREE PEOPLE HAVE been killed following a serious road crash that happened in Co. Louth early this morning. 

The crash happened at about 2.15am on the N1 Dublin-Belfast road near the border at Carrickcarnon. Two vehicles were involved in the incident. 

Gardaí confirmed this evening that the occupants of one of the cars – a man in his 50s and a woman in her 80s – were pronounced dead at the scene.

A man in his 20s in the second car was taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital where his injuries are not thought to be life threatening. Another man in the car – also in his 20s – was pronounced dead at the scene.

All three deceased persons have been taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where post-mortem examinations are expected to take place tomorrow.

Formal identification has not yet been carried out. The local coroner has been notified and an incident room has been established at Dundalk Garda Station. 

The crash site and cars involved were examined by garda forensic investigators. Traffic diversions have now been lifted and the road has fully reopened to traffic.

Investigating gardaí are appealing for anyone with camera footage of the incident to make it available to them. 

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dundalk Garda Station on 042 938 8400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. 

The deaths bring to six the number of people who have died on the roads since yesterday evening after two people were killed in collision between car and jeep in Co Cavan at 7pm last night and a man in his 20s was killed in Monaghan earlier today.

With reporting from Sean Murray