Three people have died after the car they were travelling in went into the water in Co Donegal.

It happened at Three Trees, Quigleys Point at around 10.20pm on Thursday.

A car was travelling from Muff towards Quigley's Point when the driver lost control.

The vehicle skidded across the road, down the embankment and plunged into the water.

The male driver, aged 49, and two rear seat passengers - a 14-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl - died.

A 45 year-old woman, who was a front seat passenger, managed to exit the car and get help.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene and the woman was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The bodies of the three others were taken from the water to Letterkenny University Hospital Mortuary, where post mortems will take place.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who was travelling on the road at the time who may have seen anything to contact them.

Especially those going from Muff towards Quigles's Point between 10.00pm and 10.30pm on Thursday - or anyone who was may have seen a Black Mitsubishi ASX with registration number '11 DL 1566' in the area, particularly any road users with dash cam footage.

They are asked to contact Buncrana Garda station on (074)-932-0540, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111 or any Garda station.