A young woman who passed away following a car crash just outside Coleraine has been named locally as Annie McWilliams.
Emergency services were first called to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on the Windyhill Road just outside the Co Derry town at around 3pm on Thursday. The collision involved a Seat Ibiza and a Toyota Hilux.
The female driver of the Seat died at the scene, the PSNI has confirmed.
The NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) said another person had been taken to hospital, after the air ambulance attended along with two emergency crews and one rapid response paramedic.
PSNI detectives are investigating the circumstances of the collision, and would like to hear from witnesses or anyone who may have captured dash-cam or other footage which could assist with enquiries.
The ‘Doggy Daycare’ pet-sitting business in Coleraine paid tribute to Annie on Friday, as they had met her through looking after her dog Nora.
“Annie was the most kindest lady anyone could have met,” the owner of the business said.
“She became someone I spent hours chatting with. Being a midwife herself, when I fell pregnant she was always asking about me and the bump.
“When it came to my delivery day (in the middle of lockdown aka no visitors) Annie pretended to have left her purse in work so she could come and see me and meet Daisy, she was the first person to meet Daisy and I will always remember that day as it was so lonely until this beautiful beam of light walked into my room.
“Annie you were taken far too soon, but I just know you will be up there looking after all the angel babies.”
Independent MLA for East Londonderry, Claire Sugden, said that the tragic incident is “desperately sad”.
“Another life taken too soon on our roads,” she added.
“My condolences to the young woman’s family and friends. My thoughts are with you as you mourn your profound loss.”
Another woman has also died following a separate crash in the Old Loughrey Road area of Cookstown on the same evening.
The crash involving a Ford Ka and a Nissan Note occurred close to the Old Loughrey Road shortly before 5pm on Thursday.
The deceased, who was a passenger in the Ka, sadly passed at the scene.
The male drivers of both vehicles and a young child who was travelling in the Nissan, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A NIAS spokesperson said: “NIAS despatched two rapid response paramedics, five emergency crews, one HART crew and one ambulance officer to the incident.
“Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patent was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, while a second was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and a third to Craigavon Area Hospital.”