A member of An Garda Síochána has been hospitalised after being involved in a horrific crash with a suspected drug driver. 

The officer was reportedly off-duty when they were involved in a two-vehicle collision on the outskirts of Athlone on Saturday evening. 

It is understood that the experienced officer, who is attached to Longford Garda Station, was quickly brought to Tullamore’s Midlands Regional Hospital. 

Gardaí and emergency services reportedly responded to reports of a two-vehicle collision in Athlone on Saturday evening. 

Here they found a key member of Longford’s rank-and-file complement of frontline officers, a young Garda who was first stationed in the midlands in July 2022. 

Authorities later arrested a man, believed to be in his 50s, at the scene for the purpose of obtaining a specimen. It is understood that this will be forwarded to forensic specialists in Dublin and will determine the course of the investigation. 

According to the Irish Independent, the respected officer is expected to make a full recovery but has been indefinitely signed off from official duty given his injuries. 

It is believed that the young officer had just left his home and was on his way to a local shop when the incident unfolded. 

In a statement to the outlet, a spokesperson for the force said: ‘Gardaí are investigating a two vehicle road traffic collision that occurred shortly after 8pm on Saturday 17th July, 2026 on the R446, Monksland, Athlone, Co. Roscommon. 

‘A male aged in his 30s was taken to Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

‘Gardaí arrested an adult male aged in his 50s at the scene for the purposes of obtaining an evidential sample.

‘He has been released pending results of analysis by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. Investigations are ongoing.’