Four people were killed in road accidents in counties Donegal and Meath yesterday. A man, a youth and a woman died in a collision near Letterkenny, Co Donegal, while a man in his 40s was killed in a hit-and-run in Clonee, Co Meath.
The triple-fatality took place just after 7 a.m. at Speenogue, Burt, on the N13 between Letterkenny and Derry.
A Honda Accord in which four men were travelling collided with a Volkswagen Passat, the sole occupant of which - Ms Ethna Quigley (40), Solomons Court, Letterkenny - was killed.
The driver of the Honda and a back-seat passenger also died in the crash.
They were Mr Owen McGinley (31), Trentamucklagh, St Johnston, Co Donegal and John Shields (15), Glenwood Park, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
A second passenger, in his 20s, was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where he was said to be "critical but stable". The fourth man, also in his 20s, was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, where his condition was described as stable.
The incident happened on a section of the road near Burt where road works had been going on for some time.
The Honda had been travelling from Letterkenny to Bridgend and the Volkswagen in the opposite direction.
The three bodies were removed to Letterkenny General Hospital where post-mortems were to be carried out last night.
Six units of the fire brigade attended and had to cut the injured men from the wreckage.
Gardaí at Buncrana are investigating the crash.
Meanwhile, gardaí in Blanchardstown are appealing for witnesses to the fatal hit-and-run which took place at Littlepace, Clonee, on the old Navan road at 12.35 a.m.
A pedestrian in his 40s was fatally injured and taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital.
Two men were later arrested by gardaí and a car seized. Both men were released yesterday and a file is to be prepared for the DPP.
Gardaí investigating the incident said they would like to speak with anyone who may have used the northbound N3 slip road for Littlepace between 12.30 a.m. and 12.40 a.m.
Anyone with information should contact Blanchardstown Garda station at (01) 666 7000 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
Yesterday's fatalities bring to 249 the number of people killed on the roads this year, 50 fewer than in the same period last year.
Drivers accounted for 102 of the deaths, passengers 53, motorcyclists and pillion passengers 43, pedestrians 42, and cyclists nine.
Despite the weekend fatalities, this month is set to have one of the lowest death tolls in recent years.
The lowest monthly death toll in the past six years was 17 in November 1999.
A total of 15 people have been killed on the roads this month.