A child is believed to be among four people who died following a road crash near Ballinasloe last night.
Investigations are continuing into the multi-vehicle crash which occurred at Poolboy at around 7.30pm last night.
The M6 is not expected to re-open for a number of hours as Gardai carry out a technical examination of the scene of last night's fatal road crash
It is believed a car had been travelling down the wrong side of the motorway and hit two other vehicles.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene while a fifth is in hospital after the collision last night on the M6 westbound.
It's understood three of those killed were in one vehicle while the driver of another car also lost their lives.
Local traffic diversions are likely to remain in place for some time while an investigation of the crash site is under way.
Ballinasloe Councillor Dermot Connolly says the entire town is in shock:
Senator Aisling Dolan lives in Poolboy.
She says her thoughts are with the families of those who died, as well as the emergency services.
