Man killed in single-vehicle crash in Co Donegal named locally

A young man who died in a single-vehicle crash in Co Donegal in the early hours of Saturday has been named locally.

Connor McGinley, 19, died after the car he was driving hit a pole on the roadside in Kerrykeel at around 3.30am.

A passenger in the car also received non-life threatening injuries in the incident.

Local councillor Pauric McGarvey said that the Kerrykeel and Milford communities were “numb” and “in shock” upon hearing of the death of the young man, who is from a well-known family in the area.

“It’s just shocking for the community,” he said.

“He was a very civilised young man, mature for his age.

“It’s just one of these freak accidents… Weather conditions last night were terrible – dark, wet roads.

“My sympathies and condolences go to the family.”

Connor McGinley’s death comes after two teenage best friends – 17-year-old Kiea McCann and 16-year-old Dlava Mohamed – died when the car they were travelling in hit a tree on the side of the road outside Clones in Co Monaghan.

Mr McGarvey added: “It’s been a week of tragedy on the roads (with) these young people being killed. It’s just a sad week for the country.”

The R246 road in Ranny has been closed to allow forensic investigators to carry out a technical examination of the scene. Local diversions are in place.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the collision to contact Milford Garda Station on 074 915 3060.

Any road users who may have camera or dash-cam footage and were travelling on the R246 between Kerrykeel and Milford this morning between 3am and 4am are asked to contact Gardai.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Gardai have appealed to people to be particularly aware of road safety this weekend, as serious road collisions are more likely during bank holiday weekends.