LAST UPDATE | 27 Dec 2022
THE PSNI HAVE named two of the three victims of a fatal road traffic collision that occurred in Tyrone yesterday.
The incident occurred shortly before 3.30pm outside Cookstown in Tyrone.
Two of the victims have been named as Patrick Rogers (26) and Mary Duffy (52), while a woman in her 80s has not been named.
Rogers’ wife and their four children were also in the vehicle and are currently receiving treatment in hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Politicians in the North have paid respects to those killed, including Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill who said on Twitter: “My heartfelt sympathies to the families of those tragically killed and every best wish to those injured for a full recovery.”
Leader of the DUP, Jeffrey Donaldson, Tweeted “Our thoughts & prayers are with all involved in this tragic incident and the families & communities impacted by such a devastating loss. We also think of the emergency services who attended the scene and the health service staff caring for those injured.”
Our thoughts & prayers are with all involved in this tragic incident and the families & communities impacted by such a devastating loss. We also think of the emergency services who attended the scene and the health service staff caring for those injured. https://t.co/e9QXckVueE
— Jeffrey Donaldson MP (@J_Donaldson_MP) December 26, 2022
Ulster Unionist Party leader, Doug Beattie, stated: “Heartbreaking news the day after Christmas. I just can’t imagine the horror those who survived have endured and the scene faced by the emergency services. Life is so precious and so fragile. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
Specialist investigators from the PSNI Collision Investigation Unit have commenced an investigation into the incident.
Commenting, Superintendent Stephen Murray, District Commander for Mid Ulster, said: “Our thoughts are very much with the families of the people who lost their lives on our roads. Any loss of life is a cause of great sadness and it feels particularly tragic at Christmas.
“I’d also like to commend members of the public who provided assistance at the scene of this collision and our officers and other emergency services for their caring and professional approach in these very tragic circumstances.
“An investigation led by specialist investigators from the Collision Investigation Unit has commenced and I am appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time who may have witnessed the collision or who has dash-cam footage or any other information to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 957 of 26/12/22.”
The PSNI have confirmed that a woman in her 40s has died following a separate one vehicle road traffic collision on the M1 motorway, near Dungannon, yesterday.
The motorway was closed for some time while enquiries were carried out at the scene but has since reopened to traffic.
Sergeant Broderick from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Police received a report just before 1.30pm, that a blue Mercedes car had left the east-bound carriageway of the motorway, near the Stangmore junction. Emergency services attended but the woman sadly died later in hospital as a result of her injuries.
“We are appealing to anyone who was travelling on the M1 in the area of the Stangmore junction and witnessed the collision or anyone who may have dash-cam footage, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, and quote reference number 779 of 26/12/22.”
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