06/12/2010

Road Victims Named As Snow Closes Airports

Belfast International Airport has now been closed as heavy snow continued to cause traffic chaos across Northern Ireland on Monday afternoon.

The northwest has been worst affected with the runway at City of Derry Airport closed, and all Translink bus services in Londonderry cancelled.

A lecturer at the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster has told www.4ni.co.uk of how he was forced to return to the campus as a battle to leave the car park failed around 1pm.

He said the centre of Coleraine was snow-bound and that all traffic appeared to have ground to a halt.

Motorists have been again warned to take care on the roads as a severe weather warning is in place for ice and snow on Monday, such as at the Hightown Road, Newtownabbey, pictured here.

The Roads Service has said all of its gritters have been out trying to ensure the main roads stay open.

The PSNI are also urging members of the public not to venture on to frozen lakes and ponds as freezing temperatures continue to grip Northern Ireland.

In a weather-related tragedy, a 33-year-old local man has died following an accident in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim.

The tragedy happened at about 10.50pm on Sunday night and brought traffic on the Doagh Road - near Nortel - to a halt for a time when Colin Weir, from Monkstown, was killed after being hit by a car.

A second male pedestrian, also aged 33, sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Alliance Newtownabbey Councillor Tom Campbell has offered his condolences to the family: "I would like to offer my condolences to the family; my thoughts are with them at this sad time.

"This is another example of how dangerous our roads can be. In these wintery conditions I would urge all motorists and road users to take extreme care.

"The Executive must do more to improve road safety as one death on the road is too many. A tragedy like this can be devastating for family and friends," he said.

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old woman has died following a two vehicle collision - also in Co Antrim. The accident happened on the Frosses Road, close to Murphy's Old Filling Station, shortly before 1.30pm on Sunday.

The victim was a secretary at Dalriada Preparatory School in Ballymoney, just named as Shirley McCauley.

(BMcC/GK)

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