An Irish-American family killed in a collision in Co Wexford were attempting to undertake a U-turn on a busy road as they travelled to a funeral when the tragedy occurred.

The crash happened on December 4th 2017.

The inquest today - which was before Wexford County Coroner Dr Sean Nixon - heard that four members of the Alexander family were travelling in convoy with relatives on the N25 when they believed they had missed a turn.

Douglas Alexander Senior, his wife Lily and their sons, Douglas Alexander Junior and Stephen, died at the scene after the car became trapped underneath the lorry which jack-knifed.

The inquest heard that the lorry, which was travelling under the speed limit, did not have the time or the distance to avoid the collision.

Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent with the Irish Independent, attended the inquest.

He explained: "As they left New Ross on the N25 shortly after 6:30pm that dark winter's evening, they believed that they had missed the turn-off to the funeral.

"They pulled over to the side of the road, and were attempting to retrace their steps. Unfortunately, the BMW 520 series [car] - which had been rented by the Alexanders and was being driven by Douglas Alexander Jr - drove directly out into the path of an oncoming articulated lorry."

Relatives of the Alexander family said they were praying for the driver of the truck.