DAD-OF-TWO KILLED
CO ANTRIM VILLAGE MOURNS CRASH VICTIM
A VILLAGE in north Antrim was left in shock yesterday after a father-of-two was killed in a road crash.
Anthony McGhee (57) died on Tuesday evening in the collision outside Ballymena.
It’s thought that Mr McGhee, a joiner from Hawthorne Crescent in Dunloy, had been travelling home from work when the accident occurred.
Sinn Fein MLA Philip McGuigan, who lives in the village, said that the community had been left reeling.
Mr McGuigan said: “The people of Dunloy, including myself, are stunned and shocked at this news.
“It is a terrible tragedy and I want to pass on my condolences to his family and friends, in particular to his two sons Damien and Michael.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with them at this devastating time.
“Everybody would have known Anthony.
“Dunloy is a small village, so everybody is a neighbour. People in the village were obviously in shock when they heard the news yesterday morning. It is a terrible tragedy.”
Mr McGuigan added: “I also understand the PSNI are looking for witnesses to the accident to come forward and I want to echo this appeal.”
Mr McGhee lost his life after the two-car collision on the A26 Crankill Road at the junction with Kildowney Road at Glarryford outside Ballymena at around 6.30pm on Tuesday.
Another casualty was taken to Antrim Area Hospital, where their condition was described as “stable”.
Three emergency crews, including two fire engines, attended the horrific scene, along with a rapid response vehicle and a doctor.
The PSNI is appealing for witnesses and wants to speak to the driver of a white van that was in the area at the time.
Mid and East Antrim Borough TUV councillor Timothy Gaston said: “This is quite a straight bit of road.
“It would not be overly busy at that time of night. At the junction, there is a good bit of visibility.
“I can’t understand why it would have happened at that junction.”
DUP councillor Sam Hanna, who lives close to the accident scene, said he was left shocked after seeing the victim lying on the road.
“I never saw the like of it. It happened on a straight road,” he added.
The A26 road is the main inland route from Belfast to the north Antrim coast.