An elderly woman has died after being struck by a lorry in Macroom County Cork
The Main Street remains closed to traffic following the incident which occurred shortly before 1pm today.
Gardai are appealing to motorists to avoid the town centre if at all possible.
The collision happened shorly after the eight-kilometre section of Macroom bypass, which will ease traffic congestion in the town, was opened by the Taoiseach and the Mayor of County Cork, Danny Collins.
The woman was knocked down by a lorry driving through the main street, prior to the opening of the bypass to the public.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and the elderly woman was pronounced dead a short time later.
Gardai say local diversion are in place and the scene remains closed off to vehicles.
Investigations are ongoing