Donegal Road Deaths Stun Toome

Two communities were united in grief at the weekend as news of a double road tragedy was revealed.

The death of a mother and daughter from Northern Ireland - who were killed while holidaying in Co Donegal - has become an even greater tragedy as it emerged that after the death of Martina McLernon (45) and her 15-year-old daughter Louise in a road accident while out walking on Saturday, that Mrs McLernon's husband, Martin (45), happened upon the accident after setting out to look for his wife and daughter.

The family's home town of Toomebridge is said to be reeling from the shocking double tragedy, while in Co Donegal, locals are also grieving this accident, which has since been overtaken as the most recent such tragedy by another - this time a fatal bus crash.

The McLernon family were enjoying a family Bank Holiday weekend in Co Donegal when the pair were struck by a car on a stretch of road between An Cuirt Hotel and Dunlewey crossroads, near Bunbeg.

A close family friend, who did not wish to be named, said the family had been torn apart by the tragedy.

Mother and daughter, Martina and Louise were out walking and Mr McLernon went to find them and happened on the death scene.

The victims' bodies were taken to Letterkenny Hospital where a post mortem examination was due.

Meanwhile, police in the Irish Republic are also investigating the second fatal road accident, which saw a head on crash between a school bus and car on Monday evening.

The crash occurred on the N13, Letterkenny to Ballybofey road when a man driving a Volkswagen Passat collided with a Bus Eireann vehicle during its regular run from Derry to Donegal Town.

The driver of the Passat, a 34 year-old Donegal man, was pronounced dead at Letterkenny General Hospital.

See: Man Killed In Collision With School Bus

(BMcC)