EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE dealing with a four-vehicle road traffic collision which closed part of the M18 motorway in Clare this morning.

An earlier incident on the same route was cleared, however a more serious collision a short distance away could see the motorway closed for several hours yet.

The first collision was reported shortly after 7.30am on the southbound carriage of the M18 at junction 10 (Newmarket on Fergus).

Gardaí, National Ambulance Service paramedics and units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Shannon and Ennis stations responded to that scene.

Two cars were involved in the incident, but no injuries have been reported.

Two children in the rear of one of the cars were assessed by ambulance paramedics but were found to be unhurt.

While fire crews from Shannon were responding to the first incident they came upon the second crash.

Aware that there were no casualties reported at the first the scene, crews stopped to deal with the second more serious crash just beyond junction 11 (Dromoland) also in the southbound lanes.

Four cars in all were involved in the more serious collision with three people being taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be serious.

The M18 remains closed at junction 11 and traffic is being diverted away from the area, though the incident was cleared as of 10.50am.

Any traffic that got caught up at the second crash were later allowed safely past but all other vehicles were diverted off the route at junction 11 via Newmarket on Fergus.

This resulted in a tailback of over three kilometres from Newmarket on Fergus to Latoon.

Later, a second diversion route was established via Ballygirreen and Shannon to ease the traffic travelling through Newmarket on Fergus.

While southbound traffic is currently being diverted off the motorway at junction 11 motorists are advised to take an alternative as there is a significant build-up of traffic back along the M18 from junction 11.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a multiple vehicle road traffic collision near Junction 11 on the M18 motorway.

“As this is an ongoing incident, no further information is available at this time.”