There has been further Christmas heartbreak on Northern Ireland’s roads after two more people died in separate accidents.
A lorry driver was killed after a collision near Beragh, Co Tyrone, yesterday morning.
And a young woman died after an accident in Co Fermanagh last night.
Five people have now died on local roads in the space of five days in the lead-up to Christmas.
In the latest incident, the woman, who was aged in her 20s, died following the single vehicle crash in the Ballyconnell Road area of Derrylin.
Inspector Cherith Adair, from the Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Police received a report shortly after 10.50pm on Monday that a silver Vauxhall Astra had been involved in a collision.
“Officers attended, alongside our colleagues from partner emergency services. Sadly, a passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The other occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries.
“The Ballyconnell Road has now reopened after being closed overnight.”
Local DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said the area was in shock.
“My heart absolutely breaks for the family of the young woman killed,” she said.
“Any time of the year is a devastating time to lose a loved one but to lose someone in such a tragic way at Christmas is utterly heartbreaking.”
Sinn Fein councillor Declan McArdle said: “The news that a young woman has now lost her life on the roads in Derrylin, particularly at this time of year, is heartbreaking.”
Separately, a man aged in his 40s died following the single-vehicle collision in the Moylagh Road area of Beragh.
The accident happened yesterday morning.
Inspector Adair added: “Police received a report shortly after 7.50am on Monday that a lorry had been involved in a collision.
“Officers attended, alongside our colleagues from partner emergency services. Sadly, the driver of the lorry was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The Moylagh Road, which was closed for a period of time following the collision, has since re-opened.”
Local SDLP councillor Bernard McGrath said it was a ‘terrible tragedy so close to Christmas’.
“This shows once again that our roads are not a safe place,” he said.
He added: “Sadly, deaths on the roads are becoming an all too frequent occurrence. and it’s especially difficult to hear so close to Christmas.
”My sympathies go to the family of the person who has sadly lost their life in such terrible circumstances.”
It follows a dark period on Northern Ireland’s roads in the days before Christmas.
At the weekend, two people died in separate accidents.
In Dungannon, pedestrian Edmund Hughes was struck by a vehicle on Friday night. He was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.
Separately, a man in his 70s died following a collision in Co Antrim on Friday.
At around 6.30pm a black Porsche Cayenne mounted a roundabout on the Belfast Road in Ballynure and collided with a lorry.
A woman was taken to hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Meanwhile, last Thursday, Garrick Wood died after the car in which he was travelling was involved in a collision near Victoria Bridge, Co Tyrone.
His funeral takes place at Ardstraw Presbyterian Church on Christmas Eve.
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