News that a 20-year-old man has died following a car crash in Co Donegal early this morning has underlined an increasingly grim toll of deaths on local roads.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was fatally injured in a two-car collision at about 4am on Monday on the main Londonderry to Letterkenny Road, near Manorcunningham - just across the Northern Ireland border.

The news comes as Northern Ireland's roads claimed two more lives following a pair of separate weekend accidents - with the total now reaching 67 fatalities.

A man died after being struck by a van on the Moneymore road in Cookstown at around 4.30am on Sunday.

The victim, a pedestrian, was later named by police as 41-year-old Edward Lyttle from Cookstown.

The incident came just over 24 hours after another death, this time in Co Fermanagh.

On Saturday, 17-year-old Kevin Peter McChesnie from Newtownbutler died in an early morning crash near his hometown.

The incident occurred on the Clones Road at around 1am when the white Peugeot 306 car he was travelling in left the road.

Another teenager who was in the car sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Police have appealed for witnesses to either incident to contact them on 0845 600 8000.

These new deaths come just days after NI Environment Minister Sammy Wilson took the time to urge all road users to exercise caution this summer following recent tragic accidents.

Speaking on Friday, before the latest accidents, the Minister said: "Road deaths are terrible tragedies for the families and friends of those killed and my thoughts are with them at this time.

"So far this year 65 people have died as a result of road traffic collisions - 17 during the month of July alone. These are not just numbers, these are peoples lives.

"It is particularly disappointing compared with last year, when the total number killed at this time sat at 63.

"Remember, alcohol and speed remain two of the main causes of fatal and serious injury collisions in Northern Ireland.

"I would urge everyone to make sure that the remainder of the summer holiday period is one we remember for fun and enjoyment and not for death and injury on our roads.

"Remember never ever drink and drive, slow down, pay attention and always wear your seat belt," he said, not knowing at the time that by the end of the weekend, the road death toll would have risen again - to reach 67 on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the tragic news from Co Donegal has ended an especially grim weekend in the Irish Republic as it means that four have died there over the weekend.

A 19-year-old woman became a victim yesterday afternoon in Co Clare. She was the sole occupant of a car that collided with another on the N67 at Dough - a post mortem is expected to take place later on today.

Two male pedestrians also lost their lives in separate crashes in Co Galway.

(BMcC)