Boy, 12, killed as train crashes into car with 'a number of occupants'

NewsWorld newsTrain crashesThe railway line between Westport and Athlone in Ireland is closed until further notice after a train collided with a car at a level crossing in Co Mayo, killing a 12-year-old boy07:20, 04 Sep 2026Updated 08:47, 04 Sep 2026A 12-year-old boy has died after a train crashed into a car on a level crossing in Ireland.‌The incident occurred shortly before 9pm last night in Co Mayo. There were "a number of occupants" inside the car, the rail operator said, with gardaí describing the collision as "serious".‌The crash took place on a service travelling from Heuston in Dublin to Westport. The train collided with the car at a user-operated level crossing at Kiltybo, near Ballyhaunis.‌This morning it emerged that a 12-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the car, a man in his late forties, was taken to hospital. His injuries are described as non-life-threatening.No train passengers were injured.The railway line between Westport and Athlone is closed until further notice.‌Irish Rail said last night: "Westport services will not operate following an incident at Ballyhaunis, where a vehicle has collided with a train."Emergency services and railway personnel are attending. Passengers travelling to/from Westport are advised that this may affect services in the morning."It added in an update: "It will be tomorrow morning before decisions have been confirmed. Again, there is a very serious incident in Ballyhaunis currently, and I can not confirm how tomorrow's timetable may be affected by both these incidents currently."‌Bus services have since been organised and will operate from Westport to Athlone, while Ballina to Manulla services will operate through Claremorris.It came following another collision on the Westport-Dublin line yesterday when a train struck a tractor at a level crossing between Portarlington and Tullamore.Passengers on the westbound service were transferred by bus to Athlone and re-boarded a train to Westport - only for the replacement train to be involved in the second incident.Article continues belowOne person was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries after the first incident.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Train crashesBreaking NewsRailwaysA-levels