Fatal crash sparks calls for road safety improvements

The plea comes after a 50-year-old motorist was killed on the road on Monday evening (May 2).

The three-vehicle crash claimed the life of a Ballymena man, named locally as Kenny Wright, and left five other people in hospital with serious injuries. It was the latest in a long list of serious crashes and tragic incidents on the rural road, which has been branded “dangerous” and “notorious for accidents.”

Outgoing DUP MLA Paul Girvan passed on his condolences to those affected by Monday’s crash and called for safety improvements on the Collin Road.

He said: “It is very tragic that a man has lost his life. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been injured as well as the family of the man who passed away. I understand that two of the injured people are in a serious condition in hospital. I hope that everyone makes a full recovery.

“It is a road with a number of potential hazards. There are a lot of hidden dips and bends on it and these make it notorious for accidents. It is something that we will have to look at for making it safer for traffic. I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision to contact the PSNI.”

Councillor Paul Michael passed on his sympathies to the man’s family. The UUP representative said: “My reaction to this terrible accident is one of shock and horror. It is another life lost on our roads and families have been torn apart. My deepest sympathies to those bereaved and thoughts and prayers to those seriously injured. I hope they make a full recovery.

“One death on the roads is one too many and I would welcome any improvements that could be made to the road to make it safer.”

These sentiments were echoed by his Ulster Unionist Party colleagues Councillor David Arthurs and Councillor Vera McWilliam.

Cllr Arthurs said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the man who died following a road traffic accident on Collin Road on Monday evening. Once again our roads have taken yet another life and my thoughts and prayers are with the man’s family at this time. I would also like to pass on my best wishes to those who remain in hospital.

“The Collin Road is a very dangerous road and unfortunately this is not the first fatality on it. I would be happy to work with other elected representatives in the area to try and make the road safer. Reducing the speed limit on the road would be one idea to try and alleviate the problems faced. Everyone is effected by road accidents, whether it be young or old motorists or indeed young or old family members who are left without a loved one.”

Cllr McWilliam added: “My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the man who lost his life and everyone who has been injured. I hope that they all make a full recovery. It is about time some action was taken to make the road safer. The introduction of a continuos white line on certain stretches of the road may be one way of reducing the number of collisions, as many of the incidents on the road are caused by overtaking motorists.”

Police officers investigating the cause of Monday’s crash, which happened near the junction of Braepark Road at around 7pm, have appealed for witnesses to come forward.