Teenager, 16, pronounced dead at scene of horror single-vehicle tractor crash in Clare as gardai make urgent appeal
Separately, a man killed in a crash on St Stephen’s Day has been named
A TEENAGER has died after a horror tractor crash in Co Clare.
The incident occurred shortly before 2pm on the R458 at Bunnahow, Co Clare.
Gardai and emergency services raced to the scene of the single-vehicle collision after the alarm was raised.
The sole occupant of the tractor, a 16-year-old male, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The road remains closed to facilitate an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, with local diversions currently in place.
The local coroner has also been notified, and the deceased has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick.
A post-mortem examination is due to be arranged.
Gardai are now appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision in County Clare on Saturday, 27th December 2025.
“Shortly before 2pm, Gardai and emergency services responded to a single-vehicle collision involving a tractor on the R458 at Bunnahow, County Clare (north of Crusheen).
“The sole occupant of the tractor, a male in his teens (16), was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later.
“The road remains closed to facilitate an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and local diversions are currently in place.”
APPEAL
They continued: “The local Coroner has been notified, and the deceased has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem examination will be arranged.
“Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.
“Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the R458 between Gort and Crusheen around the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man in his 20s died following a “serious” crash in the early hours of St Stephen’s Day.
The incident occurred on Drum Road, outside Cookstown, in Co Tyrone.
The deceased has been named as Padraig McDonald.
LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES
A teen has also been left with life-changing injuries, and another has suffered serious facial injuries after the horror crash.
The PSNI said that they received a report that a silver Volkswagen Golf and a black Volkswagen Golf had collided at 12.40am.
A few minutes later, a black Vauxhall Corsa collided with one of the vehicles involved in the first collision.
McDonald was travelling in the silver Golf and died in hospital shortly after the incident, Chief Inspector Simpson of the Police Service’s Collision Investigation Unit said.
“The sole occupant of the tractor, a male in his teens (16), was pronounced deceased at the scene a short time later.
“The road remains closed to facilitate an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators, and local diversions are currently in place.”
APPEAL
They continued: “The local Coroner has been notified, and the deceased has since been removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem examination will be arranged.
“Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.
“Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the R458 between Gort and Crusheen around the time of the collision are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
“Investigations are ongoing.”
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a man in his 20s died following a “serious” crash in the early hours of St Stephen’s Day.
The incident occurred on Drum Road, outside Cookstown, in Co Tyrone.
The deceased has been named as Padraig McDonald.
LIFE-CHANGING INJURIES
A teen has also been left with life-changing injuries, and another has suffered serious facial injuries after the horror crash.
The PSNI said that they received a report that a silver Volkswagen Golf and a black Volkswagen Golf had collided at 12.40am.
A few minutes later, a black Vauxhall Corsa collided with one of the vehicles involved in the first collision.
McDonald was travelling in the silver Golf and died in hospital shortly after the incident, Chief Inspector Simpson of the Police Service’s Collision Investigation Unit said.
Four other occupants of the car were injured, with a boy in his late teens sustaining life-changing injuries.
Another boy suffered “serious facial injuries”, while the two other occupants’ injuries are not thought to be serious at this time, Simpson said.
