Three teenagers were killed in Co Tipperary last night when the car they were travelling in hit a tree.
They were named by gardai tonight as Adrian O'Brien (17), from Newtown, Nenagh, Padraig Bourke (16), from Silvermines and Stuart Donnellan (14), from Cormack Drive, Nenagh.
The Opel Astra with five people travelling in it crashed at Kilboy on the Nenagh to Dolla road at 7.30pm last night.
Two of those who died were pronounced dead at the scene and another boy was later pronounced dead at Nenagh General Hospital.
The other two occupants, a 16 year old girl and a 15 year old boy, were taken to the Mid Western General Hospital in Limerick where their condition was described as serious.
The teenagers were travelling from Nenagh to Silvermines when the crash occurred.
The scene of the accident is on a dangerous dip in the road.
The car is believed to have veered across the road and collided with head-on with a tree. Locals know the bend as a dangerous black spot for accidents, particularly in icy weather, and a number of crashes have occurred at the spot in recent years.
Gardai said the road where the collision occurred is closed and the examination of the scene by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators is continuing. Diversions are in place.
Garda Superintendent Robert Noonan said the emergency services had been confronted with an "absolutely horrendous" scene after the crash last night.
He said gardai, fire services and ambulance personnel had done their best to save lives at the scene after they responded to the crash at 7.20pm.
Supt Noonan said two people died at the scene and another boy who was taken to Nenagh hospital was later pronounced dead. The weather conditions at the time were dry, although the roads were slightly greasy, he said. Gardai are seeking witnesses to the crash.
It had been a very traumatic event for all concerned, he added.
"It's absolutely a terrible tragedy to wake up to on the first day of January 2009 for everybody in the community."
Supt Noonan said his thoughts were with the families of the deceased.
Silvermines parish priest Fr Brendan Moloney described the accident as a “major tragedy which has touched the lives of so many communities and parishes in North Tipperary”.
“The loss of so many young lives is a major tragedy, especially at this time of year. Our deepest sympathies are with the families affected by this awful tragedy,” Fr Moloney said.
While locals were unable to drive past the scene of the accident today, many slowed down at the garda checkpoint in Dolla and blessed themselves.
Prayers for the deceased and the injured will be offered at Mass in Silvermines church tonight.