Updated: 08.45

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a crash in Co Wexford that has killed four members of the same family.

A couple aged in their 70s and their two sons were in a car that collided with a truck near New Ross on Monday night.

Gardaí say the three men and a woman were declared dead at the scene following the crash at Begerin Hill about four kilometres east of New Ross on the N25.

The family in the car are believed to have moved to the US, but returned home for a funeral.

The driver and a passenger in the lorry escaped injury.

The cause of the collision is not known and it is understood road and weather conditions were reasonably good in the area at the time of the crash.

Garda forensic collision investigators are to continue their examination of the scene this morning, and detectives say the road is likely to remain closed until lunchtime at the earliest.

They are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who may have information to come forward.

Southern correspondent with the Irish Independent, Ralph Riegel, told Newstalk Breakfast up to seven ambulances attended the scene.

"What I was told from locals last night (that) it was a horrific scene.

"Part of the lorry ended up on top of the car.

"At one point I think there was up to seven ambulances attending the scene.

"Tragically, two of the occupants of the car were pronounced dead immediately.

"There were desperate attempts to try and stabilise the condition of two others -but they were also pronounced dead at the scene".