Gardai launched an investigation after two bikers died in a freak accident on Ireland’s busiest motorway.
The Irish Mirror has learned the pals collided with each other as they rode their motorbikes along the M50 yesterday afternoon – before being hit by a passing truck as they lay on the ground.
“It was a freak accident,” a source said.
Read more: M50 crash: Gardai appeal for witnesses following fatal crash
The Mirror has also established that both men were English holidaymakers who were touring around Ireland.
It’s understood one victim was in his 60s, while the other was in his 50s.Gardai were liaising with British police last night to break the news to the men’s families. But sources stressed that neither the victims nor the lorry driver involved in the smash were suspected of any wrongdoing.
“It was just a horrible accident,” one source added. “The two men on the motorbikes were on holiday from England. It looks like they were riding along and they bumped into each other.
“It was an accident and there is no suggestion that they were speeding.
“But when two motorcyclists even tip off each other at 100kph, the results are devastating. They fell off their bikes onto the carriageway and were hit by a truck.
The driver could do nothing to avoid them. It is a terrible tragedy.” Both men died instantly in the crash, which happened on the northbound carriageway of the M50 that orbits Dublin between junction nine for the N7 and junction seven for the M4.
The crash happened at around 2pm, but the carriageway was closed until 9pm last night as gardai began their investigation onto the tragedy.
Officers also appealed for people not to share gruesome footage of the aftermath of the crash online.
The force tweeted: “An Garda Siochana is aware of graphic images of today’s fatal road traffic collision which are being shared across social media and messaging apps. An Garda Siochana appeals to everybody, DO NOT SHARE this material, it is disrespectful to the deceased, their family and friends!!”
The aftermath of the crash led to massive tailbacks on the M50, one of the main routes to Dublin Airport for passengers from the south and west, as traffic ground to a halt while emergency services rushed to the scene.
Meanwhile, a major rescue operation was underway last night after a car went into the River Lee in the centre of Cork.
Witnesses said the car appeared to enter the river at Kennedy Quay at around 7pm. They said two children in the car managed to get out and swim to the surface – but a third occupant, believed to be a female, did not surface.
Read more: Gardai slam 'disrespectful' sharing of fatal M50 crash images
Read more: M50 crash: Two motorcyclists confirmed dead by gardai
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