A tragic road traffic collision occurred late on Tuesday night, in the village of St Johnston, County Donegal, resulting in the deaths of two young men and serious injuries to a third.
The incident took place on the R236 road at approximately 11:15 PM, when a car carrying three male passengers, all in their late teens, collided with a lorry. One passenger died at the scene from his injuries. A second passenger was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry but was later pronounced dead there. The driver of the car, also in his late teens, received serious injuries and was initially taken to Altnagelvin Hospital before being transferred to Victoria Hospital in Belfast for further treatment. No injuries were reported among anyone in the lorry.
Emergency services, including GardaÃ, firefighters, and ambulance crews, attended the scene promptly. The R236 road was closed in both directions to allow for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, with local diversions put in place for motorists.
Gardaà launched an appeal for witnesses, asking anyone who was traveling on the R236 between 10:45 PM and 11:45 PM to come forward. They particularly requested information from those with dash-cam footage or other relevant recordings. Contact can be made with Letterkenny Garda Station, the Garda Confidential Line, or any local Garda station.
This collision contributed to a particularly devastating day on Irish roads, as it brought the total number of road deaths reported for February 24–25, 2026, to three. Earlier that day, a man in his 50s died in a separate incident in Riverstown, County Sligo, when his motorcycle collided with a lorry.
So far in 2026, 25 people have lost their lives in road crashes across Ireland. The incident in St Johnston has left the local community and nearby areas, including parts of Derry close to the border, deeply affected by the loss of such young lives.
Investigations into the exact circumstances of the crash remain ongoing, with authorities working to determine contributing factors.
