Tragic Road Collision Claims Second Life in Carndonagh, Donegal

A second individual has succumbed to injuries sustained in a road traffic collision in Carndonagh, County Donegal, which occurred on Wednesday evening, July 2, 2025. The incident involved a car and a van on the R240 road at Carrowmore, Glentogher. According to An Garda Síochána, the deceased, a woman in her twenties, was transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast following the crash but tragically passed away the following day. A six-year-old girl, who was a rear passenger in the vehicle, also died as a result of the collision.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident shortly before 6:30 PM, and two other passengers from the vehicle remain hospitalized. One male passenger, aged in his thirties, is receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, while the female child is being treated for similar injuries at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Cllr. Albert Doherty, a Sinn Féin representative for the Carndonagh area, expressed profound sorrow over the incident, stating that the local community is "raw with grief". He emphasized the devastating impact this tragedy has on families in the area, noting that the road has a history of fatal accidents. "Unfortunately, locally here in Carndonagh at the turn of this year, we had the tragic loss of a young man. And here again now, a local family are having to face the terrible burden of losing a loved one," remarked Cllr. Doherty in an interview with RTÉ Morning Ireland.

Fr. Con McLaughlin, a parish priest who visited the hospital after the crash, described the emotional atmosphere within the emergency department, stating, "The scene is something I will never forget. In the community, there is shock and disbelief. One can only imagine what the family is going through, which I witnessed last night."

In response to the tragedy, Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, called it "heartbreaking news about another tragedy on our roads in Donegal." He reiterated the importance of road safety and urged drivers to remain vigilant.

The Gardaí have launched an appeal for witnesses to the collision and are particularly interested in any dashcam footage from road users traveling in the area between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM on the evening of the accident. Members of the public with information are encouraged to contact Buncrana Garda Station at 074 932 0540 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

This incident marks another sorrowful chapter in the ongoing concerns regarding road safety in County Donegal, a region that has witnessed multiple fatal crashes in recent years. The community is left to mourn the loss of two young lives and to reflect on the broader implications of road safety measures in the area. As investigations continue, the local authorities are expected to review conditions on the R240 road and consider measures to enhance safety for all drivers and pedestrians.