Three NI Roads Deaths Overnight

It has been a night of carnage on the roads with one man dead in Co Down and two more in Co Antrim.

Yesterday evening, a man was killed in a collision in Kilkeel after the car he was in crashed into a wall.

The accident happened on the Newry Road at about 8.30pm and along with the fatality, a second man in the car was also badly hurt in the crash. He is in a stable condition in hospital.

No other vehicles are thought to have been involved. The dead man's name has not yet been released.

Earlier last night, two men were fatally injured in a crash involving two cars and a bus near Glengormley, in Co Antrim.

The deceased were named this morning as Joseph Babu, 36, of Princess Crescent in Newtownabbey, and Matthew Varghgse, 44, of nearby Abbots Garden.

It happened on the A8 between Belfast and Larne near Bruslee (pictured) at about 5.30pm.

It is believed both the victims were in their early 40s and were of Indian descent. Both victims were travelling in the same car.

The driver of the second car and several bus passengers were injured. Their wounds are not thought to be life threatening.

Former MLA and local Councillor Paul Girvan, who was at the scene shortly after the crash, described it as "horrific".

"It's an extremely dangerous part of that road, we've had a number of fairly near accidents there," he told the BBC.

"This just makes it all the more important to get the dualling of the A8 completed."

A Translink spokeswoman said the bus - with 57 passengers on board - was the Belfast to Larne Express.

"Thankfully there were no serious injuries on board the bus that we know of at this time," she said.

"Four passengers were taken to hospital along with the bus driver to be treated for minor injuries.

"Everyone is very shaken at this time, especially the bus driver who did everything in his power to avoid the collision."

So far this year, 53 people have died on Ulster's roads - slightly down when compared to 56 this time last year.

(BMcC)