Two young teens died after a car that is suspected to have been driven by a 13-year-old collided with a tree yesterday.
A young girl and boy, named locally as Kirsty Bohan, 14, and Lukas Joyce, 14, died after the vehicle struck a tree outside Headford, Co Galway, before 6am on Bank Holiday Monday morning. The horrific crash at Pollacullaire is believed to have instantly killed Lukas, understood to have been the front-seat passenger in the car.
Another girl was seated in the back of the car along with Kirsty, who was rushed to hospital and was later sadly declared dead. The other teen girl was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with serious injuries. Last night her condition was still being described as being serious.
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The suspected driver of the car was rushed to hospital and last night had injuries that were described as being non life-threatening. All of the victims are understood to have been pals and Second Year students at Presentation College in Headford. Yesterday evening the school’s Board of Management met for an emergency meeting to discuss the tragedy and the implementation of a Critical Incident Plan.
In a statement last night, Presentation College Headford said they had lost “two treasured members” of their community. The school statement added: “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these students.”
The school, currently on Easter holidays, said it will open its doors today from 11am to 2pm to offer support to the tragic teenagers’ classmates. Local councillor Mary Hoarde, who was at the meeting, told the Irish Mirror: “We want to offer the sympathies of the community to the families of the two people who have lost their lives. We are there as a community to support them through the very difficult and dark days that lie ahead.”
It is understood that some family members had yet to be informed of the tragedy yesterday evening. Also speaking to this paper, local councillor Andrew Reddington said yesterday: “As a community we are all thinking of the two families who have lost their loved children.
“There’s a dark cloud over the community in the Headford area. Each and every person is thinking of the families of the young persons who lost their lives last night and are praying for the people that are in hospital. As a community we will rally together to support the families but ask for everyone to respect the families who need to grieve the loss of their children.”
Gardai closed off the L6127 at Glennagarraun, Ballyfruit in Headford so that the scene could be examined. Gardai say they are engaging with the families involved and that Family Liason Officers will be appointed. A statement continued: “Any road users who may have camera footage between 5.30am and 6am are asked to make this footage available to Gardai.”
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