TRIBUTES have been paid to a schoolgirl named as the victim of a tragic incident involving a car in Co. Louth yesterday.
Chantelle Keenan, 7, was fatally injured when a grey Ford Focus accidentally rolled into her in the driveway of a relative's home in Boyle O'Reilly Terrace, Drogheda at around 2.30pm.
The youngster was rushed to nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital but was tragically pronounced dead shortly later.
It's understood Chantelle had been visiting the house in Drogheda from her family's home in Rath Lodge, Ashbourne, Co. Meath at the time.
A number of children were reportedly playing close to the car involved when it began to move and crushed Chantelle against a gate in what Gardaí described as a "tragic accident".
'Our hearts are broken'
Heartbroken family and friends have taken to Facebook to pay tribute to "beautiful little girl" Chantelle.
One relative wrote: "I went in to see her in the hospital and I honestly haven't stopped crying since.
"Poor child kicking and playing around in a paddling pool an hour before tragedy struck her... Why God? Why do this?
"Our hearts are broken. Please, I'm begging everybody to pray for my family. Poor Chantelle is gone but we still need your prayers."
Another family member said: "Please pray for my nephew and niece John and Kathleen, whose beautiful seven year old little girl died tragically today.
"They need strength, I just don’t know what we're going to do".
A third added: "May God mind her, it’s all so terrible. RIP little lady."
'Tragic accident'
In a statement, Gardaí confirmed they were treating the incident as a "tragic accident".
A spokesperson for the force said: "Gardaí in Drogheda are investigating an incident which occurred in the driveway of a house in Boyle O’Reilly Terrace at approximately 2.30pm 7th July 2019.
"Initial investigations indicate that a 7 year old female was fatally injured in what appears to be a tragic accident involving a car.
"The local coroner has been notified. Investigations are ongoing."
See More: Car Accident, Chantelle Keenan, Drogheda, Louth, Meath, Tributes
