Gardaí have launched an investigation into a fatal collision which occurred on the M6 near Athenry early yesterday morning.
The tragedy unfolded just after 5am yesterday (Wednesday ) when a car was involved in a single vehicle collision on the M6 westbound at Ballygarraun West, Athenry.
The driver, who was in his fifties, exited the vehicle following the crash, and was struck by a passing lorry. He was fatally injured in this second collision.
The driver of the lorry, also a man in his fifties, was uninjured in the incident.
Gardaí and emergency services were called to the scene of the accident, and the motorway between Junction 17 and Junction 18 was closed off for a time yesterday while Garda forensic collision investigators carried out a technical examination of the scene.
The deceased man's body was removed to University Hospital Galway for a post mortem examination.
Investigating gardaí are appealing to motorists who were on this road in the early hours of yesterday, and who may have witnessed this collision or saw the vehicles involved before the collision, to get in contact. Gardaí are also asking motorists who have dashcam footage of the road yesterday morning to make it available.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091 538 000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
In a separate incident, the search for a missing Galway man was stood down in Donegal this week following the discovery of a body. Greg King, who was originally from Renmore, went missing on Sunday evening while holidaying in Fanad.
Mr King's body was discovered on Tuesday evening. His funeral will take place in Renmore Church tomorrow (Friday ) at 11am, followed by burial in Rinville Cemetery, Oranmore.
