Tyrone road crash kills three family members

Three people, all believed members of the same extended family, were killed while four others are in hospital following a road crash tragedy in Co Tyrone on Thursday morning. The collision involving a lorry and a minivan happened on the A5 road between Ballygawley and Aughnacloy. Six ambulances and three fire engines along with other emergency personnel rushed to the scene of the crash, which happened just after 7am.

The driver of the lorry suffered minor injuries but three people travelling in the minivan are believed to have died at the scene while four were taken to hospital, two to Craigavon and two to the RVH in Belfast. It is understood all those in the minivan were members of the same extended family and had been traveling home to the Newtownstewart/Strabane area from London via Dublin. They had been in London for a family gathering.

For years, there have been calls for an upgrade of the treacherously dangerous A5 from the border at Augnacloy to Derry. A total of 47 people have now lost their lives since the Executive first approved a dual carriageway in 2007. The road was closed from early morning into the evening in both directions between the Annaghilla Road Roundabout, Ballygawley, and Favour Royal Road in Aughnacloy.

Motorists have been advised to seek an alternate route. Police confirmed "that three people have sadly died" following the road traffic collision. West Tyrone SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan knows some of those involved in the latest crash.

He said the Strabane community is "devastated". "The accident in Aughnacloy, that has claimed the lives of three local people from this community and left a number of others seriously injured, is an unspeakable tragedy that has devastated a number of families in this area and left the wider community shocked and heartbroken," he said.

West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan

"I know a number of those involved in this crash and our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families as they come to terms with what's happened. "There's little we can say to provide any kind of comfort at such a terrible time, but I know the entire community will rally around them in their time of need."

Sinn Fein West Tyrone Orfhlaith Begley said the scale of the tragedy has stunned the local community. "I want to commend the emergency services who were at the scene of the collision to support all those impacted," she said. "The local community will now rally around the families and support them through this difficult time."

Niall McKenna, chair of the Enough is Enough Group, said its members were heartbroken.

Chair of Enough is Enough Niall McKenna

"Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who have passed away and those who have suffered injuries," he said. "We also remember all the people, especially first-responders and medical staff, who have witnessed sights this morning that will be hard to forget. "Yet again because of this road, families and communities will be left totally devastated.

These people are not just statistics. We are acutely aware of the human impact of these tragic all-too-regular events."

A5 was closed as emergency services dealt with aftermath of the crash. BBC

Aghaloo and Carnteel parish priest Father Cathal Deveney told the BBC: "It doesn't even bear thinking about, the shock of it - everyone's taken aback.

"Every time there is an accident there is always concern." The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 07:19 on Thursday. "NIAS despatched one Rapid Response Paramedic, six emergency ambulances and three ambulance officers to the scene.

The HEMS team was also tasked to attend, doing so by response car. Ambulance Control also tasked a doctor the incident. "Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, two patients were taken to Royal Victoria Hospital by ambulance and two were taken to Craigavon Area Hospital by ambulance."

Meanwhile, a man in his twenties has died after the motorbike he was driving crashed in Co Cavan on Wednesday night.

The single-vehicle crash happened on the R165 at Cornakill, Kingscourt at around 8pm.