Four women in their 20′s have been killed in a horrific road accident in Co Galway.

A fifth woman is also in a critical condition in hospital.

The five women were travelling along the N17 between Ballindine and Milltown when their car collided with a lorry at around 7.30pm.

Three were pronounced dead at the scene, one died later in hospital and the fifth woman remains in a critical condition at Mayo General Hospital.

The driver of the truck was seriously hurt but his injuries are not life threatening.

The road remains closed this morning for a technical examination.

Traffic diversions are in place.

In all six people lost their lives on the country’s roads yesterday.

Early in the day a 58-year old woman was killed when her car hit a wall in Williamstown in Co Galway and a 31-year old man was killed when his car collided with a jeep at Aharra in Co. Longford.