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8th July 2024
10:12am BST
Tributes have poured in for an American man who died following a two-vehicle crash in Westmeath last week.
Former police officer and Vietnam veteran Joe Marroquin and his wife Cathy were involved in the collision on their way to Dublin airport last Wednesday.
Cathy remains in critical condition in hospital, while two males in the other vehicle, one in his 30s and one in his 20s, were also taken to separate hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
It is believed that Mr Marroquin and his wife have Irish ancestry and were visiting relatives in Westmeath.
A spokesman for the Bellaire Police Department in Texas said: "The City of Bellaire and the Bellaire Police Department express deep sorrow at the tragic loss of Joe Marroquin.
"He passed away in a car accident while visiting family with his wife in Ireland.
"Our thoughts are with his wife, also a beloved member of our police department, who was also involved in the accident.
"We fervently hope for her swift recovery. Joe served with the US Marine Corps before becoming a police officer in 1970.
"He worked for Bellaire PD from 1972 -1985, joined Harris County, and returned to Bellaire in 2017. We thank him for serving.
"During this exceptionally challenging time, we extend our heartfelt condolences to their family.
"We wish them strength and support as they navigate this painful situation."
Mr Marroquin was one of four people killed in road accidents last week.
Aisling Moore and her eight-year-old daughter Abbigael died when their car collided with a lorry near Swinford, Co Mayo, while Polish man Marcin Nowosielski also died in a seperate crash.
Another US tourist also died last week - Michael Gallagher, 87, from San Francisco, was visiting family members in Achill, Co Mayo when the quad bike he was on crashed.
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