Boy, nine, from Co Tyrone killed in road crash in Donegal

A nine-year-old boy who died in a road incident in Co Donegal was visiting from Northern Ireland.

The child has been named locally as Ronan Wilson from Kildress, Co Tyrone.

Irish police (gardai) said emergency services were called to Bundoran at around 9.20pm on Saturday after a pedestrian was “struck by a vehicle” on Atlantic Way.

“The pedestrian, a boy aged nine years, was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later,” they said.

“The vehicle involved in the collision failed to remain at the scene.”

On Sunday evening, gardai said a man in his 20s had been arrested for an alleged offence under the Road Traffic Act in relation to the collision in Bundoran on Saturday evening.

“The male is currently detained at a Garda Station in Donegal under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984,” they said.

“Gardai have seized a vehicle in connection with the investigation which will undergo technical examination.”

Earlier Gardai appealed for witnesses.

“Investigating Gardai are also appealing to those with video footage, including dash cam recordings, from Atlantic Way and Sea Road, and the general area at the time, to make it available to them,” they said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballyshannon garda station on 074 9858530 or the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said the local community in Kildress is broken-hearted following the death of the nine-year-old.

He has appealed for anyone with dash cam footage from near the scene of the incident on Atlantic Way at 9.20pm on Saturday night to come forward to police.

“The whole community in Kildress and across Tyrone is broken-hearted today. The Wilsons are a well-known local family and this tragedy has shocked us all,” he said.

“My thoughts are with Ronan’s family and friends as they come to terms with this devastating news. I know everyone in Kildress and further afield will be thinking of them and will rally around them in the days ahead.”