Witnesses to fatal canal crash sought by Gardai

Gardai in Birr are appealing for information in relation to a car crash that claimed the life of a 30 year old woman yesterday (Sunday). The single vehicle collision saw the car she was a passenger in leave the road and enter the canal at Clononey, between Cloghan and Shannonbridge, at approximately 1pm. The male driver of the car and an eight month old male passenger escaped with minor injuries. The dead woman, named locally as Breena Jacob, was pronounced dead after being taken to Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe following the accident. The car's other two occupants were also taken to the same hospital, but with non-life threatening injuries. The stretch of road the accident happened on was closed immediately following the incident to allow Garda forensic collision investigators carry out an examination. The road has since been reopened to traffic following the completion of an examination. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the collision to contact Birr Garda Station on 057 9169710, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.