An elderly man has died in a car crash in County Westmeath.

It is the second tragic road death in the Castlepollard area of Westmeath in the last 24 hours.

Gardaí said two cars were involved in the crash on the R394 at Gartlandstown at around 5.30am this morning.

A man in his 80s travelling in one of the cars was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman in her 60s who was driving has been taken to the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore with serious injuries.

The two men in the second car – aged in their 30s and 20s have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The road remains closed as Gardaí carry out forensic examinations at the crash site and local diversions are in place.

Investigators are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

They are particularly interested in talking to road users who were travelling the R394 between Mullingar and Castlepollard between 4.45am and 5.45am this morning and may have camera footage.

Four people have died on Irish roads in the last 24 hours.

Some 97 people have died on Irish roads so far this year - 12 more than in the same period last year.