Three young people sadly lost their lives in a car crash in Co. Laois last night.
The vehicle hit a road sign at Middlemount, on the Rathdowney to Abbeyleix Road, at around 3am this morning.
The 20-year-old male driver and two women, aged 20 and 35, were all pronounced dead at the scene. A 16-year-old passenger was rushed to Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore with non-life threatening injuries.
The road is likely to remain closed for a time this morning.
Any Witnesses to the crash are asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057-8674100, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800-666-111 or any garda station.