Three people killed, four injured in Co Tyrone crash

Three people have died in a road crash in Co Tyrone, which happened on the A5 at Tullyvar just outside the village of Aughnacloy. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 7.20am this morning. The PSNI have confirmed that three people died in the crash, and four others have been taken to hospital.

The condition of the four people in hospital is not known at this time. The road remains sealed off and local diversions are in place. PSNI officers are carrying out forensic examinations of the road and the vehicles involved in the crash, which appear to be a lorry and a mini-van.

It is understood that a large group of people who were travelling together were involved in the collision.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has confirmed that two vehicles were involved in the crash. David Nichol, Western Area Commander of the NIFRS, said that they were called to the scene at 7.21am, along with Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the PSNI. He said that three fire appliances attended the scene and used cutting equipment to rescue casualties from their vehicles.

The casualties were then taken to hospital by ambulance. Mr Nichol said his heartfelt sympathies were with the family and friends of the three people who lost their lives. Meanwhile, the PSNI have appealed to the public not to share inappropriate images from the scene of this morning's crash.

In a statement, the PSNI said it was aware of "inappropriate photographs taken of the scene of the fatal collision" being shared on social media and other platforms. Supt Mervy Seffen, Mid Ulster District Commander said "Three people have sadly lost their lives in this tragic collision and our thoughts are with their family and friends today." "Do not add to their distress by viewing or sharing these images," he said.

Local Sinn Fein MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Colm Gildernew said that the news of what happened today would be devastating for the families of those involved. "My thoughts are with everyone involved in this tragic incident.

A family or families are going to get the news that is going to devastate them today," he said. "It's very obvious we are being told that there are fatalities here, so a family somewhere are going to receive that knock on the door and they are going to be told they have lost their loved ones lives and the impact that will have will just be shocking." DUP councillor Mark Robinson, a farmer close to where the crash happened, said the scene this morning was described to him as "carnage".

"It seems some sort of mini bus has been involved with a lorry. It's really tragic news for the families involved and our thoughts and prayers go out to them at this time." Mr Robinson said that it seems the people involved in the crash are not local to this area.

"I've been told that it was carnage whenever the crews arrived this morning at the accident. It happened just after seven o'clock. I think it has been a devastating scene for everybody involved and our thoughts go out to those personnel involved in helping at the scene," he said.

Mr Gildernew said that there have been multiple fatalities on the stretch of road in the past and said a new road was urgently needed. "There have been a series of fatalities on the A5 right along its length. Each and every one of them an individual tragedy for those families," he said.

Mr Gildernew said that a new road needs to be built, bypassing the town of Aughnacloy. "We need to see a new A5 built through the area. The road that is currently here is not fit for purpose.

It is only fit for local use.

We need to see a full dual carriage way and the town of Aughnacloy bypassed, and that proper fit for purpose road needs to be completed with urgency."