A COMMUNITY has been left “heartbroken” after a mum and her daughter died in a horror road crash, with their local school calling it an “unimaginable tragedy”.
Mum Natalie McLaughlin, in her 20s, and her six-year-old girl, Ella, were today named as the victims of the smash in Co Donegal on Wednesday evening.
Natalie McLaughlin and her 6-year-old daughter Ella died in the crash near CarndonaghJoe Boland
Fr Con McLaughlin visited the hospital in Derry yesterdayJohnston Press
The collision, involving their car and a van, happened at Glentogher, Carndonagh, just after 6.30pm.
Ms McLaughlin’s partner, Tyrone Irwin, 30s, is in a serious condition at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Derry.
However, his injuries are not understood to be life-threatening.
Ms McLaughlin was initially treated at Altnagelvin Hospital but was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where she passed away on Thursday afternoon.
Little Ella was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
She and her mother Natalie both attended St Patrick’s Girls National School in Carndonagh.
The school today said: “This is an unimaginable tragedy for their family, for our school, and for the entire community.
“We are heartbroken, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Ella and Natalie’s family.”
They added: “Ella was a joyful and much-loved pupil in our school.”
The Carndonagh couple’s other daughter, Rhea Rose, aged two, was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital from Altnagelvin for treatment.
The tot’s injuries are said to be non-life-threatening.
‘WORDS FALL SHORT’
Ms McLaughlin was well known in Carndonagh where she worked as a nurse in a local doctor’s surgery.
She qualified with a Bachelor of Science in Adult Nursing from Ulster University and began working as a registered nurse in 2022.
Her parents, Danny and Joanne, and both extended families were last night being comforted by friends.
Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal Authority, Cllr Martin McDermott, said: “Words fall short at this time — what can anybody say? They are such a lovely family and so well respected.
‘JUST DEVASTATING’
“It’s just devastating. The loss of anybody on our roads is difficult for any community to take.”
Cllr McDermott added: “The loss of a mother and daughter, particularly given the fact that they are so young, is even more poignant and more difficult to accept.
“People are just numb and there is very little I can add to that, other than to keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.”
The driver of the van, who is in his late teens, was treated at the scene. His injuries are not serious.
PROBE CONTINUING
Gardai continue to investigate all aspects of the fatal collision.
The road on which it took place, the R240 at Carrowmore, was closed while forensic collision investigators examined the scene, before being reopened on Thursday afternoon.
Head of the Garda Traffic Corps in Co Donegal, Insp Sean McDaid, asked road users who were travelling in the area between 6pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday to make dash-cam footage available to police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Buncrana Garda Station on 074 932 0540. You can also call the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
The scene of the fatal accident on the R240 between Quigleys Point and CarndonaghNorth West Newspix Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
