Tributes are being paid to the young man killed in a road tragedy in Co Donegal last night.
Kian Dawson, aged 16, had come from neighbouring Derry earlier in the evening along with his friend in the Inishowen Peninsula.
Football-mad Kian, from Carnhill in the city, was a front-seat passenger in the car which crashed at Cross, Quigley’s Point at 11.15pm.
The two young men were the occupants in the car which appeared to go out of control before striking a wall and ending up in a field.
It appears the car suffered a huge side impact during the collision.
Kian died at the scene and the driver of the car suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for emergency treatment.
The car in which the young men were traveling was fitted with R plates suggesting the driver had passed his driving test recently and was a restricted driver.
Garda Forensic Collision Investigators arrived at the tragic scene earlier this morning in a bid to determine what exactly caused the accident.
The road on which the tragedy occurred, the R240, has remained closed for most of the day.
The head of the Gardai Traffic Corps in Co Donegal, Inspector Seamus McGonigle said there was very little he could say about the latest loss of life on Donegal’s roads.
He said “There’s very little I can say other than to express my sincere sympathy with the family of the young man who lost his life and the young man who was seriously injured.
“This is simply another tragedy on the roads of Donegal which I would prefer not to be commenting on. It’s simply heartbreaking for all concerned.”
This is the ninth death on Donegal’s roads so far this year compared to a total number of ten fatalities for all of last year on the county’s roads.
Inspector McGonigle issued a general appeal for people to concentrate on their driving when they get behind the wheel.
He also asked people to be aware of weather conditions after a status yellow rain warning was issued for Donegal for the next couple of days.
He added “I would simply ask people to be as careful as they can when they get behind the wheel of a car.
“It goes without saying that they should always wears their seat belt, not to speed and never to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs.
“But overall I would just ask people, young and old, to mind their driving at all times and to be careful.”
Tributes have been flowing in on social media for Kian.
His good friend Kyle McDonald posted ‘Rest in peace brother, taken way too soon. Wish things could be different. There was so much more memories to be made. Look over the boys the next few days. Fly high, forever 16.”
Molly Ferry posted “Rest easy beautiful boy. A lo of sore hearts today Kian. Forever our angel now.”
Local SDLP Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, said the crash in neighbouring Donegal at left this a “dark” time for all.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families devastated by this tragedy at this dark and unbelievably difficult time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.
Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station at 074 9320540, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
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