Tributes are pouring in for a teenage boy who died in a car crash in County Donegal over the weekend.

16-year-old Kian Dawson died in the crash on the R240 in Cross at around 11.15pm on Saturday night.

The County Derry native was a front-seat passenger in the car which reportedly hit a bridge on the country road on the Inishowen peninsula.

The driver of the car, a man in his 20s, was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast with serious injuries.

In a post on Facebook, Kian’s football club Don Bosco’s described him as “the most genuine, well-mannered and unassuming young lad you could meet”.

“We awoke this morning to the sad news that young Kian Dawson, a player in our 2007 group since the age of 5, had sadly passed after a road traffic accident last night in Donegal,” they wrote.

“Kian and his father Emmett - a coach with our 2007s - have been an integral part of our club for many years and have given us many wonderful and happy memories that we will cherish forever.

“Kian was the most genuine, well mannered and unassuming young lad you could meet.

“He was a credit to Don Boscos but more importantly to his mum and dad, Fiona and Emmett.”

The club has called off all club activities including training and matches this week as a mark of respect.

Kian was a Year 12 student in St Columb's College in County Derry.

School principal Caroline McLaughlin said the community was "truly saddened" by his death.

"Engaging and popular"

She described Kian as an “engaging and popular pupil whose personality meant he made friends easily”.

“It should come as no surprise, therefore, to learn that he had a large circle of friends,” she said.

“Kian was about to embark on his chosen career of barbering, for which he developed a talent this year,

“He was deeply respected by his peers and members of staff who worked with him. He will be very much missed by his classmates and teachers alike.”

SDLP MLA for Foyle Mark Durkan said he was “thinking of Kian's family, friends and all who knew him as the reality bites that this beautiful boy has been taken from them forever”.

“May they get the strength from each other and from us all to help them through this terrible time,” he wrote.

Crash

Meanwhile, three other people were injured in a separate crash in Donegal over the weekend.

It happened at Inver shortly before 9am on Sunday.

A woman in her 80s was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while a man (50s) and a woman (40s) are being treated for injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.

The road remained closed this morning while Gardaí continue their investigation.

They are appealing for witnesses to come forward – particularly road users who were in the area between 8.30am and 9am and may have camera footage.