The mother of a 21-year-old killed in a weekend crash in Co Down has said her heart “is in a million pieces” following the tragedy.
Police have named the victim of the collision at Carryduff Road, Temple, as David McDonald from the Carryduff area.
He was a passenger in a blue Vauxhall Corsa that was involved in a serious crash on Saturday shortly before 7.10pm.
Mr McDonald was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the vehicle, a man in his 20s, sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash and a PSNI spokesperson said: “Anyone with information or relevant footage is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 1350 14/12/24.”
In a Facebook post, the victim’s mother Katrina McDonald wrote of the tragedy, “I cannot describe this pain”, and added: “My kids are my reason for being. I’ll never get over this. My child.”
She described him as “the most beautiful star in the sky” and wrote: “My heart is in a million pieces. My beautiful big son.”
His brother Dylan McDonald wrote in a post: “My bro always.
Deputy Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Sinn Féin’s Ryan Carlin, told the Irish News: “This is devastating news for this young man’s family and the wider community in Carryduff, especially with Christmas approaching.
“His loved ones are in all of our thoughts at this incredibly difficult time, and I would urge anyone who can assist police with their investigation to contact them.”
Meanwhile, two people including a pedestrian remain in critical condition in hospital following two separate weekend collisions in Belfast and Co Tyrone.
The pedestrian, a man in his 20s, is critical but stable in hospital after a collision in the south Belfast’s Dublin Road area.
The incident happened at around 12.30am on Sunday morning and the road was closed for a short time before reopening.
“We would ask anyone who was travelling in the area between 12am and 12.20am today to review dash-cam footage they may have captured and call us on 101 with any information,” a PSNI spokesperson said.
On Saturday morning, a two-vehicle collision in the Ballygawley Road area of Dungannon left the driver of one of the cars, a man in his 80s, critically injured.
The crash happened shortly before 9.20am on Saturday, and the driver of the other vehicle was also taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries.
“Police would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of the Ballygawley Road at the time and saw the vehicles involved, a black Volkswagen Golf and white Vauxhall Insignia, to contact them on 101, quoting reference 479 of 14/12/24,” a PSNI spokesperson said.
