RIP: Pedestrian dies and another airlifted to hospital following crash as parade cancelled

One pedestrian has died and another one has been airlifted to hospital with "serious injuries" after being struck by a car in the early hours of St Patrick's Day in Co Donegal.

The two men, both pedestrians aged in their 60s, were hit by the car on Lower Main Street in Letterkenny at around 3am this morning. 

One of the pedestrians, a man aged in his 60’s who was seriously injured in the collision, passed away at Letterkenny University Hospital earlier today.

The Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.

The second pedestrian, a man also aged in his 60’s, has been airlifted to Galway University Hospital where he continues to receive medical treatment for serious injuries.

The driver of the car involved in the incident, a male aged in his late teens, was arrested at the scene of the collision. He remained in Garda custody on Monday afternoon.

The incident has been referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOH) because of an earlier interaction between the driver of the car and gardai.

Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward. In particular, Gardaí are appealing to anybody who was in the area between Dry Arch Roundabout and Oldtown Road at the time.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 2.30am and 3.30am this morning, Monday 17th March 2025, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on (074) 916 7100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

The Letterkenny St Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled as a mark of respect.

"It is with deep regret that we announce the cancellation of today’s St Patrick’s Day Parade following a serious traffic incident that occurred in the town early this morning," Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce posted.

"Following consultation with An Garda Síochána and in the interest of public safety, we have made the difficult decision not to proceed with the event. While we cannot comment on the specifics of the incident, we must prioritise the safety and well-being of our community and those attending. The parade route is directly affected, making it impossible to proceed as planned.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly in preparing for today’s event—our volunteers, participants, local businesses, and supporters. Your dedication and effort do not go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate your commitment to bringing this celebration to life. We understand this will be disappointing news for many, but we appreciate your understanding and support during this time."

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