Family involved in fatal accident in Sligo were making their way home to Donegal

A woman killed following a single-vehicle collision in north Sligo has been named locally as Dr Mahbuba Akhter, who was living in Donegal.

The Bangladeshi doctor, 55, who had not been practising in recent years due to illness, was pronounced dead at the scene at Grellagh, Castlegal, Co Sligo on Monday. Her body was removed to the mortuary at Sligo University Hospital (SUH) for a post-mortem examination.

Her husband and a passenger in the car, Letterkenny University Hospital doctor Faruk Hossain, was brought to SUH, where his condition was described as critical.

Their children, the driver - a male in his 20s - and the third passenger in the car - a male juvenile teenager - were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at SUH. It is understood that the family had been travelling home to Letterkenny from Castlebar, Co Mayo

A GoFundMe called ‘Support Dr Farooq and his children after tragic accident’ has been set up by colleague Mohamed Rashed Mohamed from Letterkenny University Hospital Emergency Department, gathering over €42,000 in its first 24 hours.

It reads that Dr Farooq “is currently in critical condition after undergoing surgery and is now receiving intensive care at Sligo University Hospital.

“As a colleague, friend, and beloved member of the community, Dr Farooq has always been there for others in their time of need. Now, he and his family need our support more than ever.

“We are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking loss of his wife, who died in the same accident. Their children were also in the car during the incident, adding to the immense trauma this family is enduring.

“Please keep Dr Farooq and his children in your thoughts and prayers. Any support you can give will help ease some of the burdens facing the family during this profoundly painful time.”

An Garda Siochána is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to come forward.

Gardaí and emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred on the N15 at approximately 3:30am on Monday. The N15 between Bundoran and Sligo had been closed later that morning for technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

“Road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N15 at Castlegal – between Cliffoney and Tullaghan – between 3:10am and 3:40am on Monday, March 9, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí,” An Garda Siochána said.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 9157000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing.”