Raid suspect in car crash

A SUSPECTED armed robber and car hijacker is in a serious condition in hospital after he crashed into a tree.

The man, aged in his 30s, has been arrested but is being treated following a series of events in Co. Laois in the early hours of Saturday.

Gardaí said the masked man entered an Emo filling station in Mountrath at 12.25am on Saturday carrying a firearm. He left with cash but crashed his getaway car outside a house in Derrykearn 10 minutes later. He then stole another car and crashed it into a tree about 1.5km away. Gardaí have preserved a number of scenes for examination.