ALERT: Garda hospitalised after being struck by car during routine traffic stop

Investigations are underway following a hit and run incident in the Midlands which resulted in a garda being hospitalised.

Confirming details of the incident, gardai say members of the Westmeath Roads Policing Unit responded to an alert in relation to a car on their Automatic Number-Plate Recognition system.

The car was stopped in the Heathfield area of Kinnegad, County Westmeath at around 10am this Thursday and as a garda member went to speak to the driver, the car drove away and struck the member. 

"The garda member was brought to the Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar to be treated for injuries which were not life-threatening," said a spokesperson who added that the garda has since been discharged from hospital and continues to receive any relevant supports from local garda management.

An investigation was immediately launched and the car was found a short time later in Boreen Bradach, Kinnegad, a popular walking route.

READ ALSO: Gardaí get hundreds of lines of enquiry but still no closer to finding missing Kerry farmer

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward and any road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and who were travelling in the area, this Thursday morning are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.

Investigating gardaí say they are particularly interested in the movements of a red Volkswagen Golf which had a partial registration number 04TS

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mullingar garda station on (044) 9384000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.