Two teens killed in crash pictured as community in ‘shock’ | UK | News
Daniel Cullen and Caoimhin Porter died in collision (Image: Joe Boland/North West Newspix)
The names of two young people who died in a horrific accident when their car collided with a truck have been released locally.
Daniel Cullen and Caoimhin Porter, 18, from the Shantallow area of Derry, died in the crash in St Johnston, Co Donegal on Tuesday night (February 24). The 18-year-old driver of the car was also transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast with serious injuries.
The three men were returning to Derry after visiting Asda in Stradane when the incident occurred on the R236 at around 11.15pm.
The Vaxhall Corsa they were in collided with a Volvo FH 500 truck pulling a cattle trailer on the Lifford-Derry main road.
Caoimhin Porter and Daniel Cullen died in the accident (Image: Joe Boland/North West Newspix)
After the collision, there was “shock in the region”. Local priest Father Damien Nejad arrived at the scene around 1 a.m. and performed last rites on one of the young men at the scene.
“It was very, very sad,” Father Nejad said. “I prayed over the body of a young man. There’s shock in the area. It’s shocking that this happened here.”
One of the men was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died a short time later at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
Derry-based clergyman Father Michael Canny met with grieving families on Wednesday. “Their family and friends are in complete shock,” he said. “This is a close-knit, close-knit community, and yet their lives will now be changed forever. We are also praying for the young man in the hospital.”
“Our thoughts, and those of many people in the city, are with the families who are devastated to receive this news last night.”
Daniel Cullen (Image: Joe Boland/North West Newspix)
Grief counselors are available at the Shantallow Community Center Youth Wing to offer support. A spokesman said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with their families and everyone who loved them.”
The crash occurred at a black spot where collisions are known. Local Presbyterian Minister Rev Craig Wilson said: “Terrible. We have devastated families and the deaths of two young people are hopeless. We heard the sirens going off on Tuesday night.”
Garda Forensic Collision Investigators closed the road for a technical investigation after arriving at the scene at around 10.30am on Wednesday. Local diversions were made and a dark cloud formed over the village. Irish Mirror.
Donegal County Councilor Gary Doherty said the incident was “an absolutely devastating tragedy”.
A Sinn Fein representative told Donegal Live: “Our thoughts are primarily with the family and friends of the young people who died, as well as the other young people in hospital.”
“The whole community in St Johnston and east Donegal is in complete shock. “It was a quiet Tuesday night and people woke up to go to work without thinking that something like this would be on their doorstep.
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“The fact that we are talking about the loss of two young lives, the fact that they are so young, makes it even more profound.”
Councilor Doherty added that St Johnston was a “very close-knit community” and the tragedy had left a dark cloud over the village.
“East Donegal is intertwined with our neighbors in Derry and Tyrone and because of its proximity people will recognize someone connected,” he said. “There are members of our community who know LEDs and the feeling of shock are devastating.”
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said it was a “profound tragedy”. He said: “Today and the days ahead will be unimaginably difficult. But I know people in Derry and Donegal will offer them every support possible to get them through this.”
Autopsy examinations will be conducted in due course.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. A spokesman said: “Road users with dashcam footage (including dashcam) who were traveling in the area between 10.45pm and 11.45pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026 are asked to provide this footage to the Gardaí investigation.
