Cookstown accident at Dungannon Road, North Ireland.

Boxing day which was supposed to be a happy day turned out to be one of the saddest day in Cookstown as they witnessed a fatal two vehicle collision which led to the killing of three persons with five persons sustaining injuries. The crash took place on the road between Dungannon and Cookstown, County Tyrone at about 15:30 GMT on Monday, December 26. Read on for more details.

Cookstown accident victims

According to the reports from the Police, both drivers of the vehicles (a woman in her 80s and a man in his 20s) as well one of the passenger in the one of the cars, a woman in her 50s have been confirmed dead following the crash. Four children that were also in one of the cars sustained injuries and were taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. A woman in her 20s who was said to have suffered non life threatening injuries was also rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in an ambulance.

In a bid to rescue the victims, two rapid response teams, four emergency crews, one non-emergency crew, a hazardous area response team and an ambulance officer were deployed to the scene by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service after receiving a 999 call at 3.29pm.

Reacting to the tragic incident, Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP) MLA Patsy McGlone condoles with the victims of the Cookstown accident. He also describes the accident as the worst possible news any family could receive particularly at this time of year.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill also sympathizes with the families of the deceased and wished those injured a full and speedy recovery. “It is deeply tragic news to learn that three adults have been killed and a woman and four children injured as a result of this terrible road traffic collision in Co Tyrone,” she mentions.

What is the cause of the Cookstown accident

Chief Superintendent Gerard Pollock has stated that an investigation led by specialist investigators from the Collision Investigation Unit has commenced to determine the cause of the Cookstown accident. He has also appealed to anyone who was in the area at the time who may have witnessed the collision or who has dashcam footage or any other information to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 957 of 26/12/22.

A serious road traffic collision has led to the closure of Dungannon Road, Cookstown between Killycolp Road and Sherrigrim Road. According to a PSNI spokesperson, this closure is likely to remain in place for some time and motorists should avoid the area.