Two people have died following a road traffic collision in Co Waterford.
The collision, involving a car and a van, took place at Robin Hill on the Tramore Road in the townland of Pickardstown, about 3km outside of Waterford City
Emergency services, including gardaí, Waterford Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service, attended the scene of the collision, which occurred just before midday.
The two people who were in the car, a man and a woman both aged in their 40s, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their bodies have been taken to University Hospital Waterford, where post-mortem examinations will be carried out in due course.
The local coroner has been notified.
The driver of the van, a man aged in his 50s, and a juvenile male, who was a passenger in the vehicle, were taken to University Hospital Waterford with injuries not believed to be life threatening.
The road was closed for several hours to allow garda forensic collision investigators to carry out a technical examination of the scene but it has since reopened.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
A family liaison officer has also been appointed.
Local councillor Lola O'Sullivan described it as an "awful sad day" for the community of Tramore and Waterford.
Cllr O'Sullivan, who lives in Tramore, said: "Car crashes are an absolute tragedy, and this particular crash today is extremely sad for the people involved, for their families and for the community of Tramore and Waterford.
"There would have been members of the public who would have come across the scene. They were probably traumatised by it.
"And then, of course, our wonderful emergency services, the National Ambulance Service, the fire service and the gardaí.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were in the accident today, and with their families," Cllr O'Sullivan said.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact them.
They particularly want to speak to anyone who may have been in the area between 11.45am and 12.15pm and who may have dash-cam footage.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Tramore Garda Station on 051 391 620, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
