Two cars were in collision at the Castlewellan Road near Clough

Rory Hunt from Downpatrick was a passenger in a car which was in collision with another vehicle on the Castlewellan Road, near Clough.

Five others, including his parents, were taken to hospital following the accident which happened at 1450 BST on Monday.

They are being treated for head, neck, leg and pelvis injuries. Two women had to be cut from the wreckage.

Two of the injured people are being treated at the Royal Victoria in Belfast where their condition is described as stable.

One woman is in a stable condition and another woman's condition is described as comfortable at the Ulster hospital. A man has been discharged after treatment.

The death brings to 40 the number killed on the roads this year. Brian Irvine of the Fire and Rescue Service said it was a "very harrowing scene".

"When we arrived on the scene there were two cars which had collided head-on, they were facing each other across the whole road," he said.

Already this year almost 50% of those people who have died on the roads have died at weekends or holiday weekends Harry Green DoE

"The ambulance paramedics were treating three people on the roadside and two others in a vehicle who were trapped.

"We removed the trapped casualties using hydraulic cutting equipment, working very closely with paramedics."

Mr Irvine said those injured had been very lucky as they had been wearing seat belts and there were airbags.

The Castlewellan Road remained closed for most of Monday night while police examined the scene.

They have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Meanwhile, a man and woman are in a serious condition in hospital after an accident in Larne, County Antrim.

The car in which they were travelling was in collision with a lorry on the Harbour Highway at about 1440 BST on Monday.

The driver of the lorry was also taken to hospital but his condition is not thought to be serious.

The Department of the Environment said it was determined to reduce the number of people killed on the roads.

Harry Green, DoE, said: "The PSNI and our advertising agency in the department have been discussing what we can do about the weekend carnage.

"Already this year almost 50% of those people who have died on the roads have died at weekends or holiday weekends.