Pat Flynn
A section of the M18 motorway in Co Clare remains closed this afternoon while efforts are made to remove a truck that crashed earlier today.
The driver of the articulated lorry escaped injury after his vehicle ploughed through a crash barrier destroying a long segment of the safety rail.
The truck’s cab remained on its side on the hard shoulder however its trailer was left hanging down a steep embankment.
It is understood the truck was not carrying a load at the time but its fuel tank was ruptured in the collision.
The single vehicle collision occurred at around 9.00am in the southbound lanes of the motorway on the Ennis side of Junction 15 at Crusheen.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis and Shannon stations responded to the scene along with National Ambulance Service paramedics and Gardaí.
Traffic Infrastructure Ireland (TII) motorway crew also attended the incident.
The truck driver was assessed at the scene by paramedics but was found to be uninjured and not in need of hospitalisation.
The southbound lanes of the motorway were immediately closed so that emergency services could work safely at the scene. Later, an emergency traffic management system was put in place and one of lane was reopened to traffic for a time.
The motorway was later closed again to facilitate efforts to safely remove the truck from the scene. Several heavy-lift vehicles were brought in right the truck and pull the trailer back up the embankment.
Efforts to recover the truck are continuing as of 1L40pm.
Meanwhile, one person has been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision near Toonagh in Co Clare this morning. The two-vehicle head-on collision occurred at around 10.30am on a narrow country road at Magowna West.
National Ambulance Service paramedics and gardaí responded to the scene.
Some units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis and Shannon, which had already been dealing with the incident on the M18 motorway, were dispatched to the scene.
A unit of the fire service from Ennistymon station was also sent to the incident.
The drivers of both vehicles were assessed at the scene.
The male driver of one car escaped injury, however the driver of the second vehicle has been taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. Her injuries are not believed to be serious.