Christening horror as dad in 20s killed by car
A YOUNG man killed by a car in Co. Donegal on Saturday night was walking home after celebrating the Christening of his baby.
Tragic Emmett McClelland died after being struck by a car while walking at Bridgend between the Donegal and Derry border.
It is understood Mr McClelland, who was in his 20s, had been socialising earlier in the 19th Hole Bar on the Donegal side of the border after his son’s baptism. He left the bar with another man and both were struck by a car which was passing at around 11.55pm.
Both men were taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry but Mr McClelland was pronounced dead a short time later.
The other man is not understood to have suffered serious injuries.
Mr McClelland was originally from Coshquin in Derry, about 15 minutes from where the fatal crash occurred. One man in his 30s, believed to be the driver of the Opel Omega car involved in the crash, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and taken to Buncrana Garda station for questioning. The car was travelling from the direction of Derry when the accident occurred. Gardaí are appealing to anybody who was in the vicinity to contact them. They are appealing in particular to a couple who flagged down a Garda patrol car at a filling station in Bridgend and reported the crash to contact Buncrana Garda station.
Tributes have been pouring in for the victim of the fatal crash on social media. Mr McClelland’s partner, Jade McCallion, updated her Facebook profile picture of herself and her partner hours after the tragedy.
Friends left dozens of messages of love and support for Ms McCallion and her two young sons.
Joanna Butler posted: ‘Jade I’m so sorry for your loss. God give you strength and protect you and your family xxxx.’