A young girl remains in a critical condition after a crash between articulated truck and a car in County Offaly yesterday.

A 30-year-old man and a five-year-old boy died in the crash on the Tullamore-Mountmellick road at 5pm yesterday evening.

A nine-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy were taken to hospital.

The girl received life-threatening injuries and has been airlifted to Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin.

The man who was driving the truck was also taken hospital with minor injuries.

Local councillor Tony McCormack said the local community is in shock after the crash.

“My heart would go out to the families of all involved,” he said.

“It was on a part of road which is actually quite good; there are not normally accidents there.

“Locals will be looking into why this accident accidently happened.

“Locally, people are shocked; it is not normally something that would happen in place like Tullamore.”

The road was closed to allow for a forensic investigation of the crash site.

Gardaí are calling for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them.