'A terrible loss' — Three young people killed in Carlow crash named locally 

The three young people killed following a collision in Carlow late last night have been named locally. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The three young people killed following a collision in Carlow late last night have been named locally.

They were Daryl Culbert from Kiltegan in Wicklow; Michael Kelly from Nurney, Co Carlow, and Katie Graham (19) from Arles, Co Laois. They died when the red Lexus in which they were travelling collided with a tree just after 11.30pm on Wednesday night.

The two men who died were both in their 20s. 

A fourth person, a man in his early 20s from nearby Ballinabrannagh, was taken to St Luke’s hospital in Kilkenny, with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He is being transferred to a hospital in Dublin for treatment.

The bodies of the three dead young people have been taken to University Hospital Waterford where autopsies were due to take place. Formal identification was also expected to take place there this evening.

The scene of the collision is close to where a fatal accident occurred last September, resulting in the death of a man whose car was in collision with a truck at Graiguenaspiddoge.

The Catholic Bishop of Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Denis Nulty, said: “Our prayers and thoughts this St Brigid’s Day are with the families of the three young people who died in the accident outside Carlow last night. 

"May St Brigid wrap her mantle around all of them this day.” 

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, Adrian Wilkinson said on social media: “My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the three young people who died in a car accident last night near Carlow. May they be aware of God’s comforting presence in their grief.”

Local Fianna Fáil councillor John McDonald said concerns had been raised by local representatives as recently as this week about the road, which he says is the main route from Portlaoise to Rosslare.

He said: “There were two crashes there around Christmas, and a person lost his life there last September.” 

Mayor of Carlow Cllr Tom O’Neill, said last night’s crash was “heartbreaking”.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, local priest Fr Tom Little said the deaths were a "terrible loss" for the community.

Fr Little said that he was alerted to the scene to give the victims the last rites.

He explained: “I got a call, and I went out to the car accident that was reported to me and when I got there, the emergency services were in attendance and sadly, there were three young people lost their lives in the car and I gave them the sacrament of the last rites of the church and blessed them.

“As a group, we stood around and prayed together for them and for their families. It’s a terrible loss. It’s a terrible loss.”

The N80 at Leagh is currently closed and will remain closed for a number of hours as a Garda forensics team examines the scene. Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke

Fr Little said the area of the road where the crash occurred is known as a bad patch, with a number of previous fatal collisions having taken place on the stretch.

"It's just so sad that so many young people lose their lives in car accidents," he said.

Speaking in Brussels, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “I only heard about that this morning.

“I’m really sorry to hear about the news and our thoughts and condolences go to the families affected and the community as well.

“I don’t know the details of it yet but there will be an investigation. I think there’s one person in hospital so hopefully they make a speedy recovery.”

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

A spokesperson said: "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N80 at Leagh between 11.15pm and midnight are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Carlow garda station on 059 913 6620, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."