The priest who attended the horrific crash in which a teenager died said: “It was the most distressing thing I have ever come across.”
Fr Francis Nolan was called to the scene in Derrymore East, Tralee, Co Kerry, to give 13-year-old Eve O’Callaghan the Last Rites.
Eve, who had just started secondary school at the Presentation Secondary was pronounced dead at the scene.
READ MORE: Priest who read Diana last rites blasts The Crown's 'crass' depiction of fatal 1997 crash
There were no other cars involved in the collision which happened at around 5:15pm on Saturday.
A driver, who is in his 40s, was taken to University Hospital Kerry with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other passengers escaped injury.
Fr Nolan, from St John’s parish, told the Irish Mirror: “It is so sad, and just devastating.
“It was one of the most tragic things I have ever seen, it was extremely upsetting, I don’t know what happened.
“I just went and I saw the young girl Eve O’Callaghan and I said prayers and gave her the Last Rites. There are very little words you can say about it.
“She was just 13 years of age, what a tragic accident. It really was the most distressing thing I ever came across in my lifetime and I am a priest 37 years.
"I didn’t know the family or Eve and they were all gone to the hospital for treatment by the time I got there.
“The community is very shocked. Eve had her whole life ahead of her. It was a horrible evening, the weather was horrible, it was dark and cold and then for this awful thing to happen.”
Fr Nolan added he is “full of admiration” for the rescue services who tried to revive Eve. He said: “I am OK today, but I was shook yesterday. Everyone was trying to do their best, the medics and the gardai, for Eve and for the family.
“Our prayers and the prayers at the community are with them. We said prayers at all the masses today [Sunday] for Eve and her family.
“I had to come back and say Mass after witnessing such a distressing scene. You have to put all these things on hold and do your work. It is not easy at all, you think of your family and friends it could be anyone.”
Local Fianna Fail Councillor Breandan Fitzgerald said: “It’s an absolute tragedy. This is the road most of us use daily if not weekly. For that to happen, on that stretch of road where people are heading to work daily it’s just awful.”
Gardai urged anyone with information about the crash, particularly anyone with dash cam footage, to contact them.
Officers have also appealed for help after a man and woman in their 60s were killed a crash on the N2 at Castleblayney in Co Monaghan on Thursday.
READ NEXT:
Social welfare Ireland: Thousands of households in for six additional payments in November
Cash boost for 'lower-paid workers' in pubs and restaurants across Ireland within weeks
Drug check 'bins' for Irish clubbers following alarm at discovery of new super strength pills
Ireland drink drive calculator: How long to wait after beer, wine, gin on Halloween bank holiday
Expert explains hairdryer hack that could cut your heating bill by €727 a year
Get all the latest breaking news straight to your inbox with the Irish Mirror newsletters
