Three people have died after separate accidents on Northern Ireland’s roads.
Two men, aged 75 and 82 and understood to be brothers, passed away following a collision in Ballymoney shortly after 1pm yesterday afternoon.
And a 68-year-old woman has died in hospital following a crash in Co Tyrone. Nora O’Hagan (68) was from the Cookstown area.
Police said the Ballymoney collision involved a car and a lorry.
It happened on the Frosses Road, one of Northern Ireland’s most notorious roads.
The car’s driver died at the scene, while his passenger passed away later in hospital. Their names have not yet been released.
Local DUP councillor Mervyn Storey said the community was in shock.
“To hear this news is just heart-wrenching because there are families today who will be devastated,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“Any death is extremely sad, and especially so when you have senior citizens who have lost their lives.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and all those affected by this tragic incident.”
Mr Storey said the Frosses Road had a history of serious accidents.
“Over the years there have been a number of fatalities on that road,” he added.
“Not that many weeks ago we had a fatality which involved a lorry as well.”
North Antrim MP Jim Allister said the latest deaths added “to the tragic toll on this road”.
“I wish to convey condolences on behalf of myself and the wider community to the families of the two elderly brothers who died,” he said.
“Once more great grief has been caused by deaths on this section of road adjacent to Ballymoney.
“Whereas some of the other Ballymoney junctions with the A26 are governed by roundabouts, which generally are safer, the junction where this accident happened is a T-junction.
“In my view there is a strong case to convert this Ballymena Road junction into a roundabout.”
Police have appealed for information.
Roads Inspector Cherith Adair, from the Collision Investigation Unit, said: “At approximately 1.10pm police received a report of a two-vehicle road traffic collision involving a lorry and a car on the Frosses Road, Ballymoney.
“Officers along with colleagues from other emergency services attended but sadly the driver of the car died at the scene, and the passenger died a short time later in hospital.”
Ms O’Hagan, meanwhile, passed away following a road traffic collision on the Woodlough Road, Dungannon on October 16.
She was a mother of four from Adair Avenue in Cookstown.
Her granddaughter is the partner of well-known Tyrone boxer Conrad Cummings.
Two other people were injured.
Inspector Adair said: “Shortly after 4pm, officers attended a report of a collision involving a white Ford Transit and a grey Audi A4, together with colleagues from partner emergency services.
“The passenger of the car, 68-year-old Nora O’Hagan, who was from the Cookstown area, was taken to hospital where she has since passed away.
“The female driver of the car and the male driver of the van were both taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries.”
According to PSNI statistics, 53 people have now died on Northern Ireland’s roads so far this year.
At the same point in 2023, one of the worst years in recent times for road tragedies, 51 people had died.
More to follow.