Two boys have died following a collision between a bus and an e-scooter in Waterford in the early hours of this morning.
The incident occurred at around 2.10am on the R680 Cork Road.
The boys have been named locally as Gilbert Collins, 15, and Abuzwa Idris, 17.
Both lived in the Ballybeg area, close to the scene of the crash.
Gilbert, who was travelling on the e-scooter, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Abuzwa, who was also on the vehicle, was taken to Waterford University Hospital with serious injuries, where he later died.
The driver of the bus was uninjured. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the collision.
In a statement, JJ Kavanagh & Sons bus company offered condolences to the families, and said it is working closely with gardaí and other emergency services to do everything possible for the families at this very difficult time.
Gardaí are appealing to witnesses, particularly road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the Cork Road in Waterford city between 1.45am and 2.15am, to contact Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
The deaths bring to 92 the number of people killed on Irish roads this year.
Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan Area Councillor Joe Kelly said that everybody is "shocked" by the incident.
Speaking after confirmation of the first boy's death, he said: "It's a terrible thing to happen ... another accident involving scooters. Whatever way it happened and whatever the fault, if any, the fact is ... it's a terrible, terrible tragedy. I'm sure everybody is feeling it."
The local community around the Cork Road, Ballybeg and the old Waterford Crystal leisure centre, is "very tight-knit" and always has been, he said.
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"A lot of people, they're all friends, everybody knows each other. A tragedy like this, although it can bring communities together, it also raises questions around safety of the entire scooter industry and the way scooters are regulated or perhaps even the lack of regulation and I think it's going to have to be looked at by Government and by the transport authorities, how better to police scooters and how to ensure that they're driven or operated in a safe manner.
"I'm not saying these young people weren't doing that but I'm just saying that, in a general sense."
Local Sinn Féin Councillor John Hearne, who lives close to the scene of the incident, said people are shocked by the news.
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"They're absolutely devastated, they can't believe what happened. I was out last night myself and to come home and this morning to wake up on a lovely day and hear of the devastation caused to families, people hearing the news this morning and people going to school or going about their business, they'll be absolutely devastated.
"It's a great community to have and the whole community will want to wrap their arms around them and mind them as best they can. Because this is just absolutely devastating for any family to go through."
