A five-year-old boy and a man in his 20s have died in separate road crashes in counties Laois and Westmeath.
The boy was killed after he was struck by a car in Kilminchy in Portlaoise at around 4.20pm.
He was brought to Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise in a serious condition, but pronounced dead a short time later.
Gardaí say a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
A woman in her 40s, who was driving the car, was not injured.
The road is closed and will remain closed overnight and a technical examination is due to be carried out by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators tomorrow morning.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Man dies, another critical following Westmeath collision
Separately, a man aged in his 20s died and another man is in a critical condition following a collision involving a quad bike and motorcycle in Co Westmeath.
The incident happened around 3.30pm at Ballynascarry, Finea.
The driver of the quad bike was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was brought to Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar for a post-mortem examination.
A passenger on the quad bike, who is a man in his 20s, was brought to Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the motorcycle, also a man in his 20s, was brought to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin and remains in critical condition.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses, particularly any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) were travelling in Ballynascarry, Finea between 3pm and 4pm to contact them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Mullingar Garda Station on 044 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
