LAST UPDATE | 8 hrs ago

GARDAÍ ARE APPEALING for information after a young female pedestrian was killed in a hit and run road traffic collision in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, today.

The deceased woman in her 20s is believed to be a young mother from the town.

Reliable sources confirmed that the woman had been positioned behind a set of gates at the entrance to a private yard in the town when a silver Ford Transit van allegedly struck the gates seriously injuring the woman.

Gardaí were searching for the driver and the vehicle after the van failed to remain at the scene.

The woman was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where she was in a “critical condition”, but later died.

Gardaí cordoned off the scene of the hit and run as a major garda investigation continued into the circumstances of the incident as well as tracing the movements of the van.

A Garda spokesman confirmed that Gardaí responded “at the scene of a serious incident involving a vehicle that occurred at the entrance of a private property in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick at approximately 12:15pm”.

“A female pedestrian, aged in her 20s, was injured in the incident and has been conveyed to University Hospital Limerick, in a critical condition.”

“She has since been pronounced deceased,” the spokesman later confirmed.

“The vehicle, a silver Ford Transit van failed to remain at the scene. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward,” he stated.

“Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the area between 11:30am and 1:00pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí,” he appealed.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Rathkeale Garda Station on 069 63222, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Local Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey said the town was in “shock”.

“There is a profound sad numbness in the area, and our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman and her family,” Cllr Teskey said.

“A serious incident occurred in our town and our full support is with An Garda Siochana and the emergency services,” Cllr Teskey added.