Monaghan driver charged over fatal crash

A 39-year-old lorry driver has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a horrific road accident in Co …

A 39-year-old lorry driver has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a horrific road accident in Co Antrim yesterday.

The driver, who is from Co Monaghan, is to appear before North Antrim Magistrates Court tomorrow. He is also charged with causing grievous bodily injury through dangerous driving and having no insurance.

The charges relate to a crash on the main Ballymena to Ballycastle Road near Ballymoney, in which a woman was killed and her husband was left fighting for his life.

Ms Mary McMullan (36) was a front seat passenger in a Honda car which was in collision with the lorry on the Drones Road at its junction with the Knockhallet Road at around 8.45pm.

Her husband, who was driving the car, was taken to Coleraine Hospital and later transferred to the Royal in Belfast where his condition was described as critical.

The latest death brings the number of people killed on the province's roads since the beginning of the year to 19.

Police investigating the incident said the lorry was illegally adapted to carry up to 30,000 litres of fuel but stressed that this was not a contributory factor in the accident.

Customs and Excise officers are to examine the contents of the tank as part of their investigations into the trade in illegal diesel.

PA

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