A tight-knit Donegal community is in shock following the death of a young man in a two-car collision last night.
The man, named locally as Paddy Dooher, died despite the efforts of doctors at Letterkenny University Hospital to save him.
Mr Dooher, from Porthall in Lifford, was driving on the R236 between St Johnston and Carrigans when he was involved in a collision at Dundee around 9.15pm.
He was taken by ambulance from the scene but died a short time later. The driver of the other car was treated for her injuries which are not life-threatening.
Garda forensic collision investigators spent yesterday examining the scene to determine the cause of the crash which claimed the life of Mr Dooher, who was in his late 20s.
'Lovely and decent young man'
Local county councillor Gerry Crawford, who lives close to the Dooher family, said the community was in complete shock at the news.
"We awoke to this tragic news which has just shattered the entire community, especially coming during the holiday season when so many families are together," Mr Crawford said.
"He was a lovely and decent young man and this will take a long time for the community to get over.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents Mary and Jim and with his brother and two sisters at this time. They are a lovely family.
"Something like this is so hard to take but coming as it does at this time of year makes it even more difficult," he said.
Councillor Crawford, a former ambulance man, paid tribute to the efforts of all the emergency services at the scene in trying to save Mr Dooher.
Meanwhile, gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.
"Any road users who were travelling in the area at the time and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to gardaí," a spokesperson said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda station on 074 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Mr Dooher is the seventh person to die on Donegal's roads this year, and the second to die this month.
On December 10th last, motorcyclist Finley Cole (19) was killed when he collided with a car in the village of Killygordon after leaving work in a local engineering plant.
Donegal’s road safety officer Brian O’Donnell appealed to drivers to take care on the roads for the rest of the holiday season and into the New Year.
