Man, 19, killed in single-vehicle crash in Donegal named locally

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward. File Picture

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, whose family are from the Milford area, died after the car he was driving hit a pole on the side of the road in Kerrykeel at around 3.30am.

His body has been removed from the scene.

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

Local councillor Pauric McGarvey said that the Kerrykeel and Milford communities were “numb” and “in shock” at 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 accident… Weather conditions last night were terrible – dark, wet roads.

“My sympathies and condolences go to the family.” He 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.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward, especially road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling on the R246 between Kerrykeel and Milford this morning between 3am and 4am.

Anyone with any information can contact Milford Garda station on 074 915 3060, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

This latest death brings the number of people who died on the country's roads so far this year to 102, with fatalities in the first six months of 2023 hitting a six-year high.

As of July 26, 95 people had lost their lives in 91 fatal road crashes, a rise of 10% on the same period from last year. In the week since that figure was recorded a further seven people have died on Irish roads.