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Two young men killed in Donegal crash involving car and lorry

Gardaí at the scene on the R236 at St Johnston, Donegal
The collision occurred on the R236 in St Johnston last night

Two young men have been killed and another young man seriously injured in a crash in Co Donegal.

The collision, involving a lorry and a car, occurred on the R236 in St Johnston at around 11.15pm last night.

A passenger in the car, aged in his late teens, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second passenger, also in his late teens, was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry where he later died.

The driver of the car, a man also aged in his late teens, was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital and later transferred to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast with serious injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

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A priest described what happened as "very, very shocking".

Fr Damien Nejad said he received a call at around 1am.

He told RTÉ's News at One that he said a prayer over the body of one of the men in the car.

Fr Nejad said he subsequently learned that a second man had died, while a third was seriously ill in hospital.

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Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Paul Canning, said the crash was a huge tragedy, adding that his thoughts and prayers were with the family and friends of the victims.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the three young men were from the same area of Derry city and were well known.

The community is in shock and thinking of and standing with their families, he added.

The R236 in St Johnston is closed for an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, with diversions in place.

Gardaí are appealing to witnesses, particularly any road users who were travelling in the area between 10.45pm and 11.45pm and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

The men's deaths bring to three the number of people who died on Irish roads yesterday, following the death of a man in his 50s in a collision between a motorcycle and a lorry in the Riverstown area of Co Sligo.

A total of 25 people have died in road crashes in Ireland this year.