Update (4.27pm): The Garda Ombudsman has said it is satisfied there was no Garda misconduct involved in a fatal collision in Galway today.
Update (4.04pm): The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has launched an investigation into a fatal road traffic collision in Co Galway earlier this morning.
In a statement, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission says the incident was referred to GSOC by Gardai.
GSOC investigators attended the scene and are carrying out an examination.
Earlier: A pensioner killed in a road accident in which two Gardaí were also injured had been missing from a nursing home.
The 66-year-old man died after being struck by a car on the main Galway to Limerick N18 road about two kilometres north of Ardrahan.
Gardaí said the crash happened at about 12.30am.
Parallel investigations are being carried out by traffic corps officers and the Garda Ombudsman’s office after a superintendent referred the case to the watchdog – a routine decision when a Garda vehicle is involved in a road accident.
It is understood the dead man had left a local nursing home earlier on Sunday night. The two Gardaí injured in the accident had stopped their vehicle on the main road after spotting the man and were making efforts to assist him.
The Garda press office said the officers were taken to University Hospital Galway but their injuries were non life-threatening.
A man aged in his 40s, who had been driving the second car involved in the accident, was arrested at the scene and taken to Gort Garda Station. He was later released.
The N18 remained closed for several hours after the crash.
Two Garda Ombudsman investigators were dispatched to the scene in the middle of the night and spent several hours on site.
Garda forensic collision investigators were also examining the road to establish the cause of the crash.
Appeals were made for any witnesses or people with information to contact Gort Garda station on 091-636400 or to use the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or to contact any Garda station.
