The community of Belmullet is in a state of shock and mourning following the death of a local teenager in a car crash on Wednesday evening.
Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Shevlin, who completed his Leaving Certificate exams this year, was killed in the single vehicle collision at Tarmon, Blacksod, just after 5.30pm.
The Honda Integra that he was driving left the road and collided with a wall.
Mr Shevlin was driving with a friend -—a front seat passenger also in his late teens — at the time of the accident.
The passenger was airlifted to Mayo General Hospital with injuries that were described yesterday (Thursday ) by gardaí as “not life threatening”.
Mr Shevlin was the son of Michael and Kathleen Shevlin, who own a hardware and household store in the centre of Belmullet.
Local county councillor Rose Conway Walsh said the community is “absolutely devastated” by the loss of such a vibrant young man, who had his whole life ahead of him.
“This is a terrible, terrible, accident,” she said. “There is a big sense of shock in the community. The entire place is in mourning today.”
The road at Tarmon was closed from Wednesday until Thursday afternoon, to allow the Garda forensic collision investigators to examine the scene.
Ms Conway Walsh said weather conditions in Blacksod were poor at the time of the accident, with mist and rain blanketing the area.
She described the Shevlins as “a lovely young family”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this awfully sad time,” she said.
The thoughts and prayers of the community are also with the family of the other young male injured in the accident.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to contact Belmullet Garda Station on (097 ) 81910, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
