Several injured including members of Indian community in early morning crash
Two people were killed and several others injured, including members of the Indian community, in a collision involving a bus, lorry and car on the R132 near Gormanstown early this morning.
The drivers of both the bus and lorry died at the scene of the accident, which occurred at approximately 6:30am. Multiple passengers from the car and bus are receiving hospital treatment for their injuries.
A 40-year-old Indian-origin man who was driving the car involved in the collision has been admitted to Beaumont Hospital with serious injuries and is currently on a ventilator. A teenager who was traveling with him also sustained serious injuries and was initially transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital before being moved to Temple Street Children’s Hospital for specialized care. Several members of the Indian community gathered at Beaumont Hospital upon hearing news of the accident.
Initial investigations suggest the collision occurred when the bus driver attempted to avoid a seven-seater car that had entered from a side road. The Garda forensic collision investigation team is conducting a detailed examination of the scene, with exact conclusions pending completion of their analysis.
The lorry driver worked for a company based in Swords, while the bus was operating Route 101, which runs from Dublin City to Drogheda via Balbriggan and Dublin Airport. Several Indian nurses were among the passengers on the bus at the time of the collision. Fortunately, none of them sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Following the collision, the R132 was closed to traffic and vehicles were diverted around the accident scene to allow emergency services and investigators to work safely.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien described the accident as shocking and urged road users to exercise maximum caution, particularly as the Christmas period approaches. “The message should be constantly sent out that as we head towards Christmas, we need to be as careful as possible on the roads,” the minister said.
Meath East Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke paid tribute to the victims, noting that the tragic news came just one week after a crash in Dundalk that claimed the lives of five young men. Bus Éireann CEO Stephen Kent said the bus had been destroyed in the tragic incident and offered condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the two victims.
An Garda Síochána has appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have dashcam footage of the incident to come forward to assist with the investigation.
The accident adds to growing concerns about road safety in Ireland, particularly on busy commuter routes during early morning hours. It marks the latest in a series of serious collisions that have claimed multiple lives in recent weeks. The Indian community in Ireland, which includes many healthcare workers and professionals who commute regularly on public transport, has been deeply affected by the incident. Community members are rallying to support the injured driver and teenager as they fight for recovery in hospital.