‘Shocking’ scene after 2 men, 20s, critically injured in 200kph Westmeath smash with ENGINE & debris strewn down street

THIS is the shocking scene of absolute carnage after a 200kph crash — that two men miraculously SURVIVED.

The pair, aged in their 20s, were flung from the red Audi after it ploughed into two trees in Rathowen, Co Westmeath, at around 2.30am on Sunday.

Debris was strewn for hundreds of yards down the village’s main street — with doors, wheels and even the car’s ENGINE sent flying in the smash.

Cops are now examining footage filmed inside the car in the moments before the horrific collision.

Locals ran to help the men before emergency services arrived at the scene, near Feerick’s hotel and pub.

The lads were rushed to Tullamore Hospital, where they were last night still in a critical condition.

One local said: “It was a shocking crash. It appears the car hit two trees before it continued up the road.

“It really is a ­miracle that the two men are alive but they’re in a bad way in hospital — hopefully they can pull through.”;

Horrifying CCTV footage shows the car losing control before smashing into the trees and careering down the road for hundreds of metres.

Gardai probing the crash became aware of footage from inside the car in the minutes before the crash.

It showed the speedometer hitting almost 200kph at one point.

Investigators also have taken away CCTV from nearby areas as they tracked the car and its movements.

A source told The Irish Sun: ­“Footage has become available to ­gardai, which they are examining, and they have built a picture as to what happened and what led to the crash.”;

Local publican John Feerick revealed some of his night staff and neighbours came upon the horrific crash.

‘THEY DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD'

He told us: “They were a credit to themselves and the local community here, because they did everything they could until emergency services came.”;

Mr Feerick also said he was aware of footage going around social media but urged: “People forget at times that there’s two families affected there.

“That should be first and foremost in anyone’s mind, the two families affected and the two lads in question.

“The shrapnel of the car can be picked up and it’s repairable but hopefully the two lads are able to make it out of recovery.”;

INVESTIGATION APPEAL

The village was closed off to traffic for most of Sunday as Garda forensic investigators examined the scene.

Cops urged those who may have seen the collision to come forward.

A spokesman said: “Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N4 near Rathowen village at the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available. Contact Mullingar Garda Station at 044 938 4000.”;