Two young Derry people killed and critically injured in a double tragedy were cousins and had gone out for a Saturday night drive, it has been revealed.
The 16-year-old killed has been named locally as Kian Dawson, a pupil at St Columb’s College, from the Carnhill area of the city.
More: Road victim Kian Dawson was due to start training as a barber
The accident happened close to Quigley’s Point on the main Carndonagh Road in Inishowen, Co Donegal. It is understood weather conditions were very poor at the time.
A Garda spokesman said the single-vehicle collision occurred at Cross shortly after 11pm on Saturday. Kian, who was a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. His cousin, who was driving the vehicle, was removed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and was in a critical condition.
The death bring to 124 the number of people killed on the roads in the Republic since the start of the year.
SDLP assembly member, Mark H Durkan urged anyone with information about the tragedy to contact Gardaí.
Mr Durkan described it as “heart breaking news.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families devastated by this tragedy at this dark and unbelievably difficult time.”
Donegal Sinn Féin councillor Terry Crossan, who lives close to the scene of Saturday’s tragedy, appealed to all road users and particularly young people to exercise caution at all times.
“Yet again Inishowen has been visited by a road fatality tragedy. I can’t begin to imagine what these two young people’s families must be going through. It is horrendous.
“The entire community in Inishowen is in shock and, for those families who have suffered similar deaths in the past, this brings it all back,” Mr Crossan said.
Saturday night’s tragedy was the second serious road accident in Donegal at the weekend. Three people were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital following a two-car collision in the south of the county. The accident happened at Inver shortly before 9am on Sunday.
