'Treasured' teens die and others injured after car smashes into tree in crash

11 April 2023 , 10:15

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Two teenagers lost their lives in Galway yesterday (Image: SM-IR Irish Pictures )

Two teenagers have died and two others have been injured after a car collided with a tree in Ireland.

Kirsty Bohan, 14, and Lukas Joyce, 14, died after the vehicle they were in struck a tree outside Headford in County Galway before 6am on Monday.

Lukas, believed to have been the front-seat passenger in the car, died at the scene, the Irish Mirror reports.

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 teenage girl was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with serious injuries and last night her condition was still described as serious.

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People leave flowers at the scene of the crash (SM-IR Irish Pictures <[email protected]>)

The suspected driver of the car, aged 13, 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 friends 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."

It will open its doors today from 11am to 2pm to offer support to the tragic teenagers' classmates.

The police closed the road and launched an investigation (SM-IR Irish Pictures <[email protected]>)

Local councillor Mary Hoarde, who was at the meeting, said: "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."

Another local councillor, Andrew Reddington, said: "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.

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"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 said the road was closed for an investigation, adding in a statement: "Any road users who may have camera footage between 5.30am and 6am are asked to make this footage available to Gardai."

Paul Healy