A teenager has died and another was taken to hospital after a tractor crashed in Ireland. The single-vehicle collision took place on R204 in Carrigallen, in Ireland’s County Leitrim at around 3.10pm on Tuesday. One of the boys, who was in his late teens, was said to have been riding in the vehicle as a passenger at the time of the tragic crash.
Paramedics arrived but nothing could be done to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another male, who is of the same age, was driving the tractor at the time of the collision. He was taken to Cavan General Hospital in County Cavan where he is being treated for injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Forensic investigators are currently working the scene, closing off the road pending a technical examination by forensic investigators. Local diversions are also in place. Gardai have issued an appeal asking for witnesses to come forward, while road users travelling in the area between 2.30pm and 3.30pm are being asked to hand over any dashcam footage to the investigating officers.
A garda spokesperson said: “A male passenger of the tractor, aged in his late teens, was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The male driver of the tractor, aged in his late teens, was conveyed to Cavan General Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time.”
Speaking about the tragedy, Fianna Fáil councillor Paddy O’Rourke said “unfortunately we are left without one of the finest young men from our parish”.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, he said: “The deceased was a young farmer who was studying for his QQI-accredited Green Cert for agriculture.”
The boy and his devastated family were said to be well-known in the area, Mr O’Rourke said, adding that the community has been rocked by the news.
“His family would be well-known and it happened a relatively short distance from his homestead,” he said.
“He was raised on a farm and had a big interest in farming. He was studying to do his Green Cert in Agriculture.
“There are so many young people out there involved in agriculture and it came as a massive shock.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and with that of the other young man who was injured.
“I understand he is expected to make a full recovery but obviously he will be traumatised by the whole event,” said Cllr O’Rourke.
“It is unthinkable what these people must be going through – nobody could possibly imagine.
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