Young man dies in Laois crash

A YOUNG man has died following an early morning crash in Laois today.

The driver, aged in his 20s, died in a single vehicle collision at Ballaghmore, near Borris-in-Ossory, at about 3am this morning.

The fatal crash happened on the R445 road between Borris-in-Ossory and Roscrea.

Traffic diversions are in place and the road remains closed, while a garda forensic collision investigation is carried out.

Gardaí said that emergency services were alerted to the collision at about 3.15am.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. The local coroner has been informed.

Gardaí said in a statement shortly after 10.30am: 'The road remains closed this morning for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Local diversions are in place.'

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Anyone with camera footage from the area between 3am and 3.30am, including dash-cam, is asked to make it available to gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 8674100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.