Tadhg Callaghan Carter, 15, was killed on Saturday after a rally car swerved off the road and crashed into a crowd of spectators

A teenager who died after being struck by a car during a crash at the Donegal International Rally on Saturday has been named by Gardai.

Tadhg Callaghan Carter, 15, was killed and two others were injured at location 15 on special stage 12 Gartan, when a car came off the road and slammed into the crowd at a left-hand bend.

The boy was was taken by ambulance from the scene to Letterkenny University Hospital after emergency services were alerted to “an incident involving a participating car,” where he was later pronounced dead.

Two other spectators are also receiving hospital treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

In a statement on Saturday, Motorsport Ireland and Donegal Motor Club said they were “deeply saddened” by what had happened and cancelled the remainder of the three-day festival as a mark of respect.

Tadhg’s school, Saint Euan’s College, posted a tribute to the departed schoolboy on Sunday and said “his loss will be felt deeply by his classmates, friends, teachers, and everyone who knew him”.

In a post on social media, the school wrote: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that our school community learns of the sudden and tragic passing of our student, Tadhg Callaghan-Carter.

“Tadhg had just completed his Junior Cert examinations and was preparing to enter Fifth Year this coming September.

“He was a deeply valued and popular member of our school community, and his loss will be felt deeply by his classmates, friends, teachers, and everyone who knew him.

“We extend our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Tadhg’s parents, brother, sisters, extended family and his wide circle of friends at this time of unimaginable grief. Our thoughts, prayers, and support are with them all.

“May his gentle soul rest in peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”

The school said it would open tomorrow to support students, parents, staff and members of the local community from 11am.

Motorsport Ireland said that as the country’s governing body for four-wheeled motorsport, it, along with Gardaí, has begun “a full investigation into the circumstances of the accident”.

Both the organisation and the Gardaí say they are aware video footage of the accident is circulating on social media and have asked the public not to share it.

The three-day event bills itself as “one of the toughest rally challenges there is for drivers and teams”.

Participants compete in 20 stages around the north-west coast of the county .

Organisers say it attracts more than 70,000 spectators and almost 400,000 view the rally on TV and online.