|
|
Man killed in Redcastle crash
20.04.09
by Linda McGrory
A MAN was killed yesterday and another man
critically injured after their car left the road in
Redcastle and careered through a fence into a field
- throwing both from the vehicle. The single-vehicle
crash happened around 10am in bright, sunny
conditions on a bend at Clar on the main Muff to
Moville Road. |
 |
|
The dead man was named
locally last night as Hugh Donegan, who was in his
early 30s and from the Shantallow area of Derry. He
was pronounced dead at the scene by a NowDoc medic.
The other man, his cousin, is in his late 20s and
from the Clar area although he has strong Shantallow
connections. He underwent emergency surgery at the
Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast yesterday
afternoon after initially being treated for his
injuries at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. His
condition was last night described by the Royal in
Belfast as critical. |
|
Buncrana Garda Superintendent Paul Glynn said the
accident happened in "perfect" weather conditions
adding that initial investigations suggested that
speed was a factor. "The car was coming from the
Muff direction, it left the road, went through a
fence before finishing up on its wheels in a field,"
said Supt Glynn. |
 |
He said the car - a red
older model BMW - travelled about 60 yards into the
field. The two victims were thrown a distance of
around 10 yards from the vehicle. Supt Glynn said
the sound of the impact was heard by people living
nearby, who raised the alarm. The road was also busy
at the time with people travelling to 10.30am Mass
in Drung and early-morning day-trippers enjoying one
of the sunniest days of the year so far.
It emerged last night that the injured man had
already survived a serious road accident in
Inishowen within the last two years. SDLP MLA for
Shantallow, Mary Bradley said the tragedy was
shocking for the area. "This is another sad day for
Shantallow. I know both families and my thoughts are
with them at this tragic time.
“One man is dead and the other is quite ill. It is a
terrible blow for any family to get that news,” she
said. The scene of the accident was closed to
traffic for most of yesterday to allow for a garda
forensic examination.
Meanwhile, Supt Glynn appealed for witnesses to the
accident. "We are appealing for anyone who was in
the area at the time and who could have anything to
add to the investigation, to contact gardai in
Buncrana," he said. Buncrana Garda Station can be
reached at 07493 20540. |
|
