Teenage boy (17) killed and three others injured in serious collision on N7

A teenage boy has died and three others injured following a crash on the Naas Road in Dublin. The collision between a van and car occurred at around 12.30am on the westbound lanes of the N7.

The driver and sole occupant of the car, aged 17 years, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. His body has since been removed to the mortuary at Tallaght Hospital.

The occupants of the van, two men (aged 45 and 36) and a nine-year-old boy were taken by ambulance to Tallaght Hospital.

Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

It is understood the car involved had come to the attention of gardai in Tallaght shortly before the collision and a referral has been made to the Garda Ombudsman.

Garda forensic collision investigators have examined the crash site and both vehicles involved. The road has since fully reopened to traffic. The coroner has been notified of the death.

Traffic was closed from Newlands Cross to J2 Kingswood following the collision but the N7 has now reopened.

A local resident living in Newlands Manor in Clondalkin who did not wish to be named said that she heard a loud bang last night and drove to see what was happening.

“I heard an almighty bang and saw smoke billowing from where the noise came from on the road so I got dressed and drove close,” she told Independent.ie.

“The emergency response teams at that stage were arriving and reacting as fast as they could. It was difficult to see how it could have happened.”

She said that both vehicles were “smashed” and the car was engulfed in flames.

“That’s a pretty straight road and both vehicles were smashed on the right hand side — van was on its side and car crumpled up and on fire.

Absolutely horrific for anyone who were,” she explained.

Deputy Lord Mayor of South Dublin County Council Fianna Fáil Councillor Trevor Gilligan said that the death of a teenager is a “terrible tragedy”.

“I live right beside that section of the N7 and it’s not the first time the road has been closed off in the past several months,” he said.

“It’s a terrible tragedy and it’s a terrible story and I would urge anyone with information to come forward as motorists would have seen something,” he added.

Sinn Féin Councillor Dermot Richardson also paid his respects to the family of the deceased.

“It’s another life gone and I’m sending my condolences to the family.

“It’s terrible to see a young life lost,” he said.