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Ten Dead in Donegal Bus-Truck Collision

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2026/02/10/ten-dead-in-donegal-bus-truck-collision.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, February 10th 2026 at 17:17 GMT by BBC
      Locales: Donegal, Dublin, IRELAND

Donegal, Ireland - February 10th, 2026 - Ireland is in mourning today following the catastrophic collision near Donegal Town that claimed the lives of ten people yesterday. The incident, involving a passenger bus and a heavy goods vehicle, has reignited a national conversation around road safety, particularly in the country's often-challenging rural environments. While investigations are ongoing, the tragedy has prompted immediate calls for a comprehensive review of infrastructure, driver training, and regulations.

The crash, which occurred on a notoriously narrow rural road frequently used by both local traffic and tourist vehicles, unfolded on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services responded rapidly, but the extent of the devastation meant there were no survivors among the bus passengers. The lorry driver was reportedly injured and remains under observation. Gardai (Irish police) have launched a full investigation, examining all potential contributing factors, including the possibility of an unsafe maneuver attempted by the bus.

Bill Fennell, a long-time and prominent road safety campaigner, expressed his profound grief and frustration. "I'm absolutely devastated," Fennell stated in a televised interview this morning. "This isn't just a statistic; these were people with families, with hopes and dreams. My heart goes out to all those affected. We've been raising concerns about the safety of roads like this for years. It's time for concrete action, not just condolences."

The Donegal region, while beautiful and popular with tourists, is characterized by a network of winding, narrow roads that present significant challenges for drivers. Poor visibility, particularly during inclement weather, is also a recurrent issue. Fennell emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to improve safety. "We need to look at everything - the road itself needs assessment for potential widening or realignment, signage needs to be clear and unambiguous, especially for visitors unfamiliar with the terrain, and driver training must be rigorous and emphasize hazard perception."

The tragedy has drawn immediate response from the highest levels of Irish government. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described the crash as a "black day for the country," offering his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families. He has pledged full government support for the Gardai investigation and promised a thorough review of road safety policies.

President Michael D Higgins echoed these sentiments, stating that the nation had suffered a "profound loss" and that the thoughts of the country were with the families and communities impacted. Both the Taoiseach and President have emphasized the importance of learning from this tragedy to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Beyond the immediate investigation, calls are growing for increased investment in road infrastructure upgrades across rural Ireland. Several advocacy groups are highlighting the lack of modern safety features on many regional roads, including inadequate lighting, a shortage of crash barriers, and insufficient lane markings. There is also a renewed debate about the enforcement of speed limits and the regulation of commercial vehicle operators.

Local residents report that concerns about the specific stretch of road where the crash occurred have been voiced repeatedly over the years. Many have described it as a known accident blackspot, with numerous near misses reported previously. This has fuelled anger and a sense of injustice amongst the community.

The Department of Transport has announced that it will be commissioning an independent review of road safety in rural areas, to be headed by a leading transportation engineer. The review will be tasked with identifying key risk factors and recommending practical measures to improve safety for all road users. The timeframe for the completion of this review is currently set at six months.

Funeral arrangements for the victims are being coordinated, and support services have been mobilized to provide counseling and assistance to the grieving families and the wider community. The country has declared a national day of mourning to honor the lives lost and to demonstrate solidarity with those affected by this devastating tragedy.