MAN IN HIS 60s DIES IN CRASH TWO OTHERS ARE HOSPITALISED AFTER CARS COLLIDE
A MAN in his 60s died yesterday following a two vehicle smash near Coleraine.
The crash happened at the village of Articlave, between Coleraine and Limavady, and involved a white Volkswagen Passat and a grey Volkswagen Polo.
It’s believed that one of the cars caught fire as a result of the smash.
Two other people were taken to hospital following the accident. Their injuries were not believed to be life threatening last night.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released by the authorities, but it’s understood that he was from the Articlave area.
His son, who was also in the car, was injured.
A spokesman for the NI Ambulance Service said last night: “NIAS despatched three emergency crews to the scene.
“The Charity Air Ambulance was also tasked to the incident scene.
“Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was air lifted to the RVH in Belfast, while one other patient was transferred to the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine.”
The PSNI’s Inspector Colin Shaw appealed for any witnesses, or anyone who may have dashcam footage of either of the cars to contact officers at Coleraine on 101.
Local DUP councillor Adrian McQuillan said people had told him the crash happened at a dip in the road where surface water had gathered after rain during the night.
Councillor McQuillan said the fatal crash was a tragedy: “Arti
clave is a small, close-knit community, and everyone in the village will be shocked and saddened by what has happened.”
North Antrim MLA Claire Sugden, who lives in Articlave, said her thoughts were with the victim’s family.
She described the incident as “tragic”.
The motorist’s death yesterday brings to 34 the number of people who have died on Northern Ireland’s roads so far this year — six more than at the same date in 2018.