A woman (51) has been killed and three people seriously injured in a road collision near Milford in Co Donegal.
The crash happened when two cars travelling in opposite directions collided on the Kilmacrennan Road at about 2.20am.
The female driver of one of the cars, named locally as school teacher Marie O’Donnell, from Fanad, was fatally injured in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.
Her husband, John (50), who was the passenger in the car, was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where his condition was this evening described as critical.
The driver and passenger of the second vehicle, a man and woman, were also taken to Letterkenny General. There condition was described as serious but not life threatening.
The crash comes barely a month after eight people lost their lives in another two-car collision on the Inishowen Peninsula.
The road between the villages of Milford and Kilmacrennan was closed for several hours yesterday while gardai conducted a forensic examination of the crash scene.
Garda Superintendent Eugene McGovern said: “One lady lost her life in this accident and we would extend our sympathies to her family. This is another tragic accident unfortunately”.
There were a number of people in the area at the time, Supt McGovern said and appealed to anyone who may have witnessed either car to contact them.
Local Labour Party councillor Jimmy Harte said the latest tragedy was a “wake-up call for everyone getting behind the wheel of a car”.
“Donegal has had a terrible summer with one tragedy after another. Coming as it does a month after the Inishowen tragedy, this latest crash should serve as a reminder to people to be vigilant behind the wheel.
“We must slow down, never take chances and have respect for everyone else on the road,” he said.