Girl, 14, and mother die in Mayo crash

A night out at a disco for four teenage girls ended in tragedy when a 14-year-old and her mother were killed in a car crash.

Driver Sandra Herbert, 40, and her daughter Rachel, who was a front-seat passenger, died when their car overturned and ended up in a stream.

Two 14-year-olds and a 13-year-old girl who were in the back seat escaped from the vehicle and raised the alarm following the crash in Co Mayo, Ireland.

A priest who knew Mrs Herbert and her daughter said there was widespread shock at their death.

It has not been determined if weather conditions were a factor in the accident, but large parts of Ireland had been hit by overnight frost.

The injured children were taken to hospital but their condition was not believed to be life-threatening.

The accident took place at about 9pm last night.

The mother and daughter were from Knockmore, and it is believed the accident happened while they were taking the 20-minute journey between their home and the disco.

The area where the car left the road at Rathbaun, Cloghans, near Ballina, was sealed off for forensic examination. No other vehicle was involved in the incident.

The injured teenagers were able to get out of the car and are said to have telephoned for help. The mother and daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

The crash raised the death toll on Irish roads in the past 24 hours to five.

Three men – aged 20, 28 and one in his 50s – died yesterday in separate accidents in counties Offaly, Donegal and Waterford.

The priest who knows the Herbert family said the loss of life was a devastating blow that was made all the more tragic as it came at a time when the local community were preparing for Christmas.

“It is an awful shock altogether,” said Fr Michael Flynn.

“Everybody is in a total state of shock this morning because everybody knew the family so well.

“They were involved in the community.”

Fr Flynn described Mrs Herbert as “a good mother, a good wife”.

He told RTE radio: “It is tragic at any time of the year, but at Christmas, it highlights it even more.”