Tragedy as girl (9) dies and brother is injured after collision in Galway on Easter Sunday

A young girl has died and her brother has been hospitalised with serious injuries after they were hit by a car while out cycling near their home on Easter Sunday.

The children, named locally as Bridget (9) and Patrick Ward (11), were cycling their bicycles near the family home near Ballinasloe, Co Galway, when the tragedy occurred shortly before noon yesterday on Easter Sunday.

It is understood that siblings were on the road close to the halting site where they live when a car lost control, struck a tree and collided with the children.

Bridget Ward was rushed to Portiuncula Hospital but despite the best efforts of paramedics she was pronounced dead a short time later. Her older brother Patrick was also hospitalised in a serious condition, but his injuries were last night described as non-life threatening.

The driver of the car is believed to be uninjured.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information in relation to this incident to contact Ballinasloe garda station on 0909 631890.

Yesterday's fatal road tragedy brings to 52 the number of people killed on the roads so far this year, compared to 46 in the same period to April last year.