UPDATE:15:00
A multi-vehicle car accident on the south-bound lane of the M18 motorway, on the Ennis side of Crusheen early today (Tuesday) resulted in the road being closed for over an hour.
The crash occurred at approximately 7.30am and resulted in major diversions while the scene was being cleared and gardaí investigated.
No one was seriously injured in the crash.
Drivers heading from Ennis to Galway were initially asked to divert at the Tulla road junction, while, those travelling from Galway to Ennis as asked to divert at Gort through Tubber. However the route has since reopened.
This morning’s crash is understood to have involved cars stopping to help a motorist who had skidded before a further vehicle skidded in the slippery conditions.
Gardaí have issued an appeal to all road users to exercise particular care as the cold weather is set to continue over the coming days.
“We would remind all motorists to drive as the conditions determine. We are asking people to reduce their speed and turn on their lights. You may be very confident in your skills as a driver but you need to consider the ability of the drivers of the car in front of you and the car behind you too so keep space between you and other road users,” a senior Garda said.
“If people see an accident it is important they contact the gardaí and relevant emergency services straight away. It is a judgement call if they decide to stop or not but they should be conscious of their own safety too,” he continued.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.