The collision happened on the N20 road in the Bruree area of Co Limerick.
ONE PERSON DIED after their car exploded into a ball of flames when it collided with a truck, that also caught fire, in what was described as a “Christmas nightmare”.

The fatal road traffic collision occurred between Banogue and O’Rourke’s Cross, near Bruree at 2am, and Gardaí closed the N20 for a technical examination of the scene and the two vehicles involved.

Firefighters attached to Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and put out the flames leading to the grim discovery of the body in the car.

Gardaí were making enquiries as to the identity of the body as well as the make and model of the car, which was completely destroyed in the fire.

The driver of the truck was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was being treated for shock and minor injuries.

“This is a Christmas nightmare for the families of the two people involved in this road traffic collision, there’s no other way to describe it, and my deepest sympathies go to the families of both people,” said local Fine Gael Councillor, Adam Teskey.

“It is the second fatal road collision in a week, following the death of a you g person in west Limerick almost to the day last week.”

“A day doesn’t go by now and we are hearing of more and more tragedies on our roads, and this fatal collision this morning is one of the saddest that I have heard about, it is a Christmas nightmare for the poor families involved.”

“I would hope that if anyone has any dash cam footage or if they witnessed the collision to bring that information to the investigating Gardaí,” Mr Teskey said.

Teskey praised and thanked emergency service first responders including firefighters attached to the local authority’s fire service, paramedics and Gardaí.

“We should all think of the first responders who go to fatal scenes like this, they do such important work and I want to thank them this morning for all their efforts.

“Their jobs are difficult enough usually, but even more so around now, as they are working long hours over the festive season,” Teskey added.

A garda spokeswoman said the driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the lorry, a man in his 20s, was taken to University Hospital Limerick for the treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The scene is currently being preserved for examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

The N20 road remains closed at this time between O’Rourke’s Cross and Banogue and motorists are advised to avoid the use of this road.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to contact them.

Anyone who was travelling on the N20 in the Bruree area between 1:40am and 2:15am is asked to make contact with investigating Gardaí.

Road users with camera footage, including dash-cam, are asked to make that footage available.

Gardaí can be contacted at the Newcastle West Garda Station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.