Heartbreaking tributes pour in for female pedestrian who died whilst walking dog near family home - PSNI appeal for information from anyone who witnessed collision with red Ford Transit van

In a statement the PSNI said the 64-year-old, who was from Knockloughrim, was walking along Quarry Road when the collision occurred at approximately 5:45pm and which involved a red Ford Transit van.

A post on ‘Curves Magherafelt’ Facebook page says: “It is with much sadness that I write this post tonight.

“This evening Helen Watterson one of our members in Curves, tragically died in a road traffic accident near her home.

“Helen has been a faithful member of Curves Magherafelt for almost 2 years and will be greatly missed.

“Our thoughts & prayers are with her husband Trevor, daughter Lorraine, sons Keith & David, her sister Elizabeth, her son & daughters in laws, grandchildren and all the family circle”.

Further comments from gym members say: “Totally heartbroken . I’ve known Helen all of my life. She was always reminding me of things I did as a baby. She loved her family. An amazing woman. A huge loss to her family and friends xx”, “Such sad news... Still can’t believe it ” and “Such heartbreaking news ! Thinking of the entire family and praying for peace, strength and comfort at this awful sad time ”.

Yesterday PSNI Inspector Gavin Sterling appealed for anyont with information about the collision to contact them.

He said: “We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the collision, and I am also appealing to anyone with dash cam footage to get in touch with us by calling 101, and quoting reference number 1534 of 09/11/20.”

Also yesterday, local DUP Councillor Anne Forde - from Mid Ulster Council who knew Mrs Watterson in her youth - said: “Helen’s death will be a great shock to people in the area.

“It happened at a very bad time of the night but she was walking her wee dog at the time,” she added.

“This is awful at this time of the year coming up to Christmas, and in a pandemic, this is a great shock for everyone who knew her.

“The community in Knockloughrim are stunned and it is very sad for the family as Helen was well known. She was a McKinney before she got married.

“Helen was born and reared in the village and she was well respected amongst the community as she was always out and about at events in the village.

“She has three children who are now married and moved into their own homes, so she lived with her husband in the wee bungalow on Quarry Road now.

“Within the community they both lived with people and were well respected - and will be sadly missed.”

A death notice on funeraltimes.com says that Mrs Watterson died suddenly on November 9 ‘as a result of an accident’.

It adds that her funeral cortege will make its way along Quarry Road in Knockloughrin - where she lived and was subsequently knocked down - on Friday November 13 at 1.15pm ‘allowing friends and family the opportunity to stand along the route to pay their respects whilst adhering to social distancing’.

The notice adds that she was the ‘dearly beloved wife of Trevor, loving and devoted mother of Lorraine, Keith and David, dear mother-in-law of Warren, Vicky and Nikki, also a much loved granny and a dearly loved sister of Elizabeth and her husband Richard’.

“Unfortunately, house and funeral are strictly private due to current government guidelines,” adds the death insertion.

“Will be ever so sadly missed by her Husband, Children, Grandchildren, Sister and the entire Family Circle. Safe in the arms of Jesus”.

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