A mother and her young baby had a lucky escape this morning after their car lost control, rolled over and ploughed into an oncoming truck, writes Patrick Flynn.

The quick-thinking lorry driver managed to bring his vehicle to a stop however before the car collided with it.

The collision occurred at around 9.30am on the main N68 Kilrush to Ennis road near Dereen. The car struck a ditch before rolling over and continuing along the road on its side.

The driver of an oncoming cement truck watched the incident unfold before him and managed to bring his vehicle to stop before the car slid along the road and collided with it.

Two units of the fire brigade from Kilrush responded to emergency calls along with an ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit from Ennis.

Gardaí closed a section of the road while emergency services dealt with the incident.

The mother and her infant child were helped from the car and were treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics. The baby appeared to be uninjured while the mother was said to be badly shaken.

They were both taken to University Hospital Limerick for further assessment. The lorry driver was unhurt.

The road has since reopened.