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Eight killed in Donegal car crash | Eight killed in Donegal car crash |
(40 minutes later) | |
It is believed the car hit a Renault minutes before the fatal accident | It is believed the car hit a Renault minutes before the fatal accident |
Eight people have been killed in a car crash in County Donegal, about 15 miles from the Northern Ireland border. | Eight people have been killed in a car crash in County Donegal, about 15 miles from the Northern Ireland border. |
The two-car collision happened on the Drumfree to Buncrana Road at 2230 BST on Sunday. | The two-car collision happened on the Drumfree to Buncrana Road at 2230 BST on Sunday. |
Seven of the dead were travelling in a black Volkswagen Passat. Irish police said they were aged in their late teens or early twenties. The driver of this car survived. | Seven of the dead were travelling in a black Volkswagen Passat. Irish police said they were aged in their late teens or early twenties. The driver of this car survived. |
The eighth person to die was the driver of the second car, a man in his 60s. | The eighth person to die was the driver of the second car, a man in his 60s. |
It is believed he was returning home after playing bingo in Buncrana. | It is believed he was returning home after playing bingo in Buncrana. |
The surviving driver was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition. | The surviving driver was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he is said to be in a critical condition. |
It is understood the victims were from Buncrana, Clonmany and Fahan. | It is understood the victims were from Buncrana, Clonmany and Fahan. |
Irish police are also investigating reports that the Volkswagen was involved in a separate collision with a silver Renault a few minutes before the fatal crash. | Irish police are also investigating reports that the Volkswagen was involved in a separate collision with a silver Renault a few minutes before the fatal crash. |
The road remains closed and traffic diversions are in place. | The road remains closed and traffic diversions are in place. |
The crash happened on the road between Drumfree and Buncrana 'Tight bends' | The crash happened on the road between Drumfree and Buncrana 'Tight bends' |
BBC NI reporter Paddy O'Flaherty is in the area and said the road where the accident happened was very narrow. | BBC NI reporter Paddy O'Flaherty is in the area and said the road where the accident happened was very narrow. |
"It's a twisty, windy road. Lots of tight bends with high hedges," he said. | "It's a twisty, windy road. Lots of tight bends with high hedges," he said. |
"There are a few straight stretches but they are few and far between." | "There are a few straight stretches but they are few and far between." |
At Mass in Buncrana on Monday morning, Father Rafal Januszewski said it was a "tragedy of all Inishowen people". | |
"Words are nothing, it is better to be with them (the families)," he added. | |
In Clonmany, Fr Fintan Diggin, spoke of how he went to the scene of the accident. | |
"I got the word that there had been an accident at about a quarter to midnight," he said. | |
"By that stage the fire services and ambulances were already there. I prayed with those involved and annointed them and tried to be some sort of comfort to all the services that were there as well. | |
"This morning, people are just overwhelmed by a sense of loss." | |
Donegal senator Cecelia Keaveney said this was "an ordeal" for all of the families involved. | Donegal senator Cecelia Keaveney said this was "an ordeal" for all of the families involved. |
"Because of the close-knit community it affects very, very many people in Inishowen particularly," she said. | "Because of the close-knit community it affects very, very many people in Inishowen particularly," she said. |
Ms Keaveney said she believed many of the victims were local people. | Ms Keaveney said she believed many of the victims were local people. |
"We have had so many fatalities on the roads over the past decades, for many families, this will reawaken the difficulties they faced," she said. | "We have had so many fatalities on the roads over the past decades, for many families, this will reawaken the difficulties they faced," she said. |
"The immediate concern is for the families, but it will reawaken histories for many people as well." | "The immediate concern is for the families, but it will reawaken histories for many people as well." |