News

Man arrested after pedestrian knocked down and killed in Bridgend, Co Donegal

Emmett McClelland was struck by a car on Saturday night 
Emmett McClelland was struck by a car on Saturday night  Emmett McClelland was struck by a car on Saturday night 

A MAN in his twenties from Coshquin has died after being struck by a car following a night out with friends.

Emmett McClelland was walking at Bridgend close to the Donegal and Derry border on Saturday night when he was hit.

Another pedestrian, also a man in his twenties, was injured but not seriously.

The driver of the silver Opel Omega car was arrested at the scene.

The man, who is believed to be in his thirties, was being questioned last night at Buncrana Garda station on suspicion of dangerous driving.

It is believed the car had been travelling from the Derry direction prior to the collision.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

It is understood Mr McClelland had been socialising earlier in the 19th Hole Bar, formerly Harry’s Restaurant, on the Donegal side of the border.

A young father, Mr McClelland is reported to have been celebrating his baby son's christening earlier in the day, according to the Belfast Telegraph. 

He left the bar with another man and both were struck by a car which was passing at about 11.55pm.

Both men were rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry but Mr McClelland was pronounced dead a short time later.

Tributes were paid to the victim of the fatal crash on social media.

Mr McClelland’s partner, Jade McCallion, updated her Facebook profile picture of herself with him.

Among the posts from friends were “thinking of you Jade” and “so sorry for your loss”.

Police, meanwhile, are investigating if a man found lying unconscious on a street in west Belfast may have been a victim of a hit-and-run.

The man, who is aged in his thirties, was discovered with serious head and leg injuries in the Springfield Road area early on Sunday morning.

The PSNI said he was found near the Springfield Road’s junction with Crocus Street shortly after 6am.

Police are investigating whether he was the victim of a hit-and-run and issued an appeal for anyone with information as to how he came to be in such a condition to contact them.

Forensic officers and PSNI mapping specialists spent several hours at the scene yesterday morning as an investigation was launched with the Springfield Road cordoned off for a time.

Much of their investigations at the scene yesterday appeared to centre on a pool of blood on a footpath.

Inspector Paul Noble said: “Shortly after 6am the man in his thirties was found close to the Springfield Road/Crocus Street junction with serious heads injury and leg wounds.

“These wounds would be consistent with being knocked down by a car and that is one line of enquiry police are following.

“The man has since been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries.”