A teenager who died in a tractor crash in County Leitrim has been described as “one of the finest young men from our parish”. 

Yesterday afternoon at 3.10, a single-vehicle road traffic crash took place on the R204 at Aghavilla, Carrigallen, County Leitrim. 

The passenger, who was in his late teens, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the tractor was taken to Cavan General Hospital. 

The driver’s injuries have been described as non-life threatening. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, local Fianna Fáil Councillor Paddy O’Rourke paid tribute to the deceased. 

“Unfortunately, we are left without one of the finest young men from our parish,” he said. 

“To say that the parish has been numbed by this is an understatement because it has hit us like a ton of bricks. 

“The young man was 18-years-of-age, completed his Leaving Cert and was doing a course in agriculture. 

“His whole life was ahead of him and, believe you me, it would be preferable to be talking about anything else here this morning from Carrigallen, other than this tragedy that has been delivered upon the family and the community.” 

Cllr O’Rourke knows the family of the deceased and described the community as “totally speechless”. 

“It’s beyond comprehension that somebody could go out in the morning and not come back to his family and loved ones at that age,” he said. 

“He would have had a lot of colleagues at school, he would have a lot of colleagues in the course he was doing in the agricultural college and the entire area has been stunned, as I said, by this. 

“All we can do and the community will, of course, rally to support the family in any which way that’s necessary. 

“But at this outset, all we do is offer our thoughts and prayers for the family who are trying to come to terms with this tragedy that’s been delivered upon them.” 

Gardaí have asked for any witnesses to contact Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station.

Main image: Gardaí at the scene of a crash. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo