Community in mourning as man aged 65 dies in bin lorry tragedy
THERE has been widespread shock at the death of a popular Co Antrim man after he was knocked down by a bin lorry.
Named locally as Ronald ‘Ronnie’ McCaughan, the 65-year-old died at the scene on Main Street in Broughshane at around 9am yesterday.
Tributes have been flooding in for the popular painter and decorator who also helped bring local children to Broughshane Gospel Hall every Monday.
It’s understood a local doctor and nurses from a nearby health centre helped in the immediate aftermath of the tragic incident.
DUP councillor Beth Clyde, who was at the crash scene, was among those who paid tribute.
“I am devastated. I saw him this morning just after the incident before he was pronounced dead,” she said. “They were still working on him when I came across the scene.
“A local doctor and a few nurses from the health centre were also helping out with the paramedics. They worked on him for a long time, but it was to no avail.
“I feel really devastated for his wife, Mary. He was so wellknown in the village and was a very personable man. He decorated for me once.
“He was a great man and belonged to the local Gospel Hall and took a bus ride on a Monday night to take the children from the estates in Broughshane to the meetings at the hall.
“He just loved it, he loved being with the children. He’s a very nice man who was so well thought of in Broughshane. It’s so devastating for Broughshane.”
Another Broughshane resident described how Mr McCaughan encouraged children to “reach out to God”.
The street remained closed until 4pm yesterday.
It’s understood the lorry involved belonged to ISL Waste Management. The company declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper.
One friend of the deceased, Karen McMullan, suggested a way of paying tribute to him.
She said: “I was thinking of Ronnie and how much he did for all, bringing the book of God to not only myself but my own children and so many of us all in our village.
“As he did so much, could we all put flowers (that) represent Broughshane in the Gospel Hall where he loved sharing the love of God as a sign of thanks, love and appreciation for Ronnie and all he did for our village and for God above.”
PSNI Inspector Peter Duncan said of the incident: “It is believed that the collision occurred just after 9.20am when a lorry collided with a pedestrian.
“The road was closed for a number of hours following the collision but has since reopened.
“I would ask anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any information to contact 101.”
Less than 12 hours earlier, in an unrelated incident, a young dad was killed in a car crash in Co Down. DUP MP Jim Shannon led tributes to the victim who died in Ballywalter on Monday night.
The 27-year-old was killed in a one-car collision with a wall at the junction of Springvale Road and Ballyatwood Road in the village. The name of the deceased had not been released at the time of going to print.
“It’s a time of immense sadness for the whole community and especially his family who have lost their loved one,” said Strangford politician Mr Shannon.
“This young man had a partner and a child and sadly now that family will be without him. It’s very sad to have an empty chair at the kitchen table.
“Ballywalter is a close-knit community who understand grief and I’m sure this will be a time where they will come together strong.
“It’s heartbreaking to start the New Year to lose a young man who was much loved and very much part of the local community.”
PSNI Constable Michael McNee said: “The collision occurred at around 11.30pm on Monday night when a silver coloured Peugot 206 left the road and collided with a wall.
“The road was closed for a time following the collision, but has since re-opened.
“We would ask anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has any information, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101.”