The communities of Delvin and Athboy are coming to terms with the death of a 13-year-old boy in a road crash this morning.
Five teenagers were travelling in a Hyundai i-10 when it crashed at Lisclougher Great near Delvin at around 2.15am.
The 13-year-old boy, named locally as Joseph Anderson, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A sixth class student in Clonmellon, he was due to start secondary school in Athboy in September.
Another teenager, believed to be 15 years old, was seriously injured.
He remains in a critical condition at the Regional Hospital in Mullingar this evening.
Three other teenagers, all from the Athboy, Archerstown and Delvin areas, escaped serious injury.
It is believed gardaí were made aware of the car earlier in the night.
One line of inquiry is that the car may have been taken without permission.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has begun an investigation.
It said today that gardaí had signalled to the car to stop, but it failed to do so and drove away from officers.
Gardaí are also appealing for information.
They are asking anyone who may have been in the area between 1.45am and 2.30am and who may have dashcam footage to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
