TWO teenagers who died in a Mayo horror crash that also hospitalised three others have been named as the community mourns.
Cian Farrell, 18, and Padraic Tuffy, 19, sadly died in the single-car accident on the L5140 at Laghtadawannagh, on the outskirts of Ballina shortly after 4.15am this morning.
The alarm was raised when the car veered off the road into a ditch and then caught fire.
Gardai, fire and emergency services raced to the crash site, but the two young lads were sadly pronounced dead at scene.
Three other teens — two boys and a girl — were taken by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Gardai said that the local coroner has been notified and that post-mortems will take place in due course.
The road was closed for examination by a Garda forensics team yesterday.
Local Fianna Fail councillor Michael Loftus told The Irish Sun: “It’s very sad for the families — who my wife and I both know. It is extremely tragic to see two people losing their lives.
“When your children go away at night, you’re always worried and that’s no different for these parents. And to have the guards call to their doors with the news is more than upsetting.
“Also, to be fair to the fire services and for the guards to be at that scene, I want to commend them for their best work on it.”
Ballina-based Fine Gael Senator Mark Duffy also told how the tragedy has hit the local community hard.
He said: “The community is in shock at the news that filtered through this morning of the two lives lost in the accident.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have passed, their family and friends who are suffering from this tragedy to befall our community.”
Gardai have now appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
They are particularly interested in speaking to those with dashcam footage.
A spokesperson said today: “Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
“Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area at the time are asked to make it available to investigating Gardai.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballina Garda Station on 096 20560, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
These latest crash fatalities bring to 27 the number of lives lost on Irish roads since the start of the year.
