Derry man killed in road accident
A young Derry dad yesterday became the latest tragic victim of the carnage on the roads in the North West.
Connor O'Neill (19) from the Sandbank Park area of the city, was killed while travelling to work shortly after 7am when his Toyota saloon-type car collided with a lorry cab heading towards Derry.
The accident, which happened at the junction of Foreglen and Gulf Roads, was closed off to traffic for a large part of today. Motorists were diverted into Claudy village.
PSNI Road Safety officer for the Foyle area, Insp. Bill Mulligan said the driver of the lorry was not seriously injured, and was yesterday helping police with their enquiries.
Speaking to the 'Journal' near the scene of the fatality, Insp. Mulligan said the circumstances of the collision were the subject of an investigation.
"We can't say at this stage whether the weather played a direct part, but we do have rain on them at this time of the year, and we do have frost on them," he said, adding there was a lot of traffic on the road at the time of the accident.
The fatality is the third inside two weeks in the North West. Last week two people died after separate road accidents outside Dungiven and Feeney.
The Inspector said the accident was "an all too uncommon occurrence," and urged motorists to take their time on the road and leave plenty of time for their journey.
Foyle SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey offered his condolences to the O'Neill family and "joined with the rest of the community in expressing deep sympathy to the victim's families and friends."
Mr Ramsey, who lost his brother and sister-in-law in a road accident in the early '90s, sits on the road safety committee.
The teenager leaves behind his daughter Ellie, partner Natasha, parents Donal and Deirdre, sisters Kate and Hannah.
His funeral - leaving from his home at 21, Sandbank Road - will take place on Thursday at 9.20am to Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty for Requiem Mass at 10am. Interment will follow in the City Cemetery.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to call Waterside police station on 0845 600 8000.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Derry
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
