Gardai at the scene of the accident on the N25 between New Ross and Ballinaboola, Co. Wexford. Picture: Patrick Browne

Four US tourists have died after an horrific collision between a car and an articulated lorry in Wexford.

Gardai have confirmed that three men and a woman lost their lives in the crash. They are all members of the one family.

The accident occurred just outside New Ross shortly after 6.30pm with a portion of the car understood to have been crushed underneath the truck.

Wexford locals indicated that the group may have been in Ireland to attend the wake of an Irish friend or relative.

It is understood the vehicle was travelling in convoy with another car when the tragedy occurred.

Such was the severity of the collision, an entire section of the N25 road was closed to allow for a major operation by Wexford emergency services.

Locals described the scene as "absolutely horrific" with debris scattered all over the roadside.

Gardaí, New Ross Fire Brigade and a fleet of ambulances raced to the scene to assist the injured.

Paramedics desperately tried to stabilise the condition of a number of critically injured people at the scene.

Two people were pronounced dead immediately at the scene.

They are understood to have been trapped in the car when emergency services arrived.

Two others died before they could be transferred to University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

Initial indications are that several of the deceased are US nationals believed to have been holidaying in Ireland.

New Ross in Wexford is a popular stop for many US tourists because of the Dunbrody famine ship and the area's famous links to President John F Kennedy.

The collision occurred just off the N25 between Cushinstown and Begern Cross on the New Ross to Ballinaboule road.

Driving conditions were described as reasonable at the time though visibility was somewhat restricted by mist and drizzle.

The lorry driver and a passenger in the lorry avoided serious injury.

The driver was treated at the scene for severe shock.

Motorists were urged to avoid the area given the road closure and the lengthy diversions in place.

Gardaí stressed that the section of road involved is expected to remain closed for some time.

The scene was sealed off to facilitate a full garda investigation into the cause of the tragedy.

Garda accident scene investigators were last night preparing to begin a painstaking examination of the section of road involved to determine the precise circumstances of what happened.

New Ross gardaí urged anyone who witnessed the collision or the movements of the vehicles involved before the accident to contact them.

Two US tourists died in an horrific head-on collision in Cork two months ago as they were driving from the Cliffs of Moher to view Blarney Castle.

Online Editors