Three killed as ‘minibus and lorry’ involved in collision in Co Tyrone

Three people have been killed and four taken to hospital after a serious collision in Co Tyrone. It is understood one of the vehicles involved was a minibus containing a number of people. The incident, which also involved a lorry, occurred on the A5 Tullyvar road just outside Aughnacloy on Thursday morning.

Colm Gildernew, Sinn Fein MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, extended his sympathies to the families of the victims. "First and foremost my thoughts are with everyone involved in today's tragic accident here on the A5 just outside Aughnacloy," he said. "This news will devastate families and communities and friends and my thoughts are with each and every one of them."

Mr Gildernew said the road where the accident occurred needs to be made safer. "The A5 is a road that has seen multiple tragedies over many years and each and every one of those tragedies is an individual disaster for every family and community involved, and it is time that we seen this A5 road completed and made safe to allow people to travel on it in safety," he said.

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said the victims were from the Strabane area. He said the local community had been "devastated" by the tragedy.

"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. "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.

"I am absolutely heartbroken for the families involved, this is a needless loss of life that has devastated our community and hit everyone very hard." David Nichol, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Western Area Commander said three fire engines attended the scene. "My heartfelt sympathies are with the family and friends of the 3 people who lost their lives following a road traffic collision on the Tullyvar Road, Aughnacloy this morning," he said.

"NIFRS was called to the incident involving 2 vehicles at 7.21am on Thursday April 27 2023, along with colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Police Service of Northern Ireland. "Three fire appliances attended - two from Clogher Fire Station and one from Dungannon Fire Station. "Firefighters used cutting equipment to rescue casualties from their vehicles and they were then taken into the care of Northern Ireland Ambulance Service."

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