Cookstown road collision: 20-year-old man dies as police appeal for witnesses

A 20-year-old man has died and two teenagers have been seriously injured following a multi-vehicle road traffic collision in Cookstown in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that the fatal collision occurred on the Drum Road shortly before 12.40am on Friday 26 December and involved three vehicles.

Chief Inspector Simpson of the Police Service’s Collision Investigation Unit said police received reports of a two-vehicle collision involving a silver Volkswagen Golf and a black Volkswagen Golf.

“A few minutes later, a black Vauxhall Corsa also collided with one of the vehicles involved in the first collision,” he said.

Emergency services attended the scene, where five occupants of the silver Golf were found to have sustained injuries.

One of the occupants, later identified as Padraig McDonald, aged 20 and from the Loughmacrory area, was taken to hospital but sadly died a short time later.

The collision has left a profound impact on the local community, particularly given the young age of those involved and the timing of the incident during the Christmas period.

Chief Inspector Simpson added:

“A boy aged in his late teens has sustained life-changing injuries, while a second boy in his late teens suffered serious facial injuries. The injuries to the other two occupants are not thought to be serious at this time.”

Police said the occupants of the black Volkswagen Golf and the black Vauxhall Corsa are not believed to have suffered serious injuries.

The Drum Road remained closed for a number of hours as specialist officers from the Collision Investigation Unit carried out forensic examinations and enquiries at the scene, but has since reopened.

Police are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant footage to come forward.

Chief Inspector Simpson said:

“We would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have dashcam or CCTV footage which could assist with our investigation, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 30 26/12/25.”

The PSNI has extended its condolences to the family and friends of Mr McDonald as investigations continue.