A 71-year-old man has tragically died after being struck by a car that crashed into a shop in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a major emergency response and leaving the local community in shock.
Details of the Coalisland Collision
Gerard Rafferty, aged 71, passed away following the collision on Moor Road in Coalisland. Police received a report at approximately 12:20pm that a vehicle had crashed into a commercial premises in the Moor Road area and struck a pedestrian.
Chief Inspector Simpson from the Collision Investigation Unit stated: 'Officers, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, attended the scene. However, Mr Rafferty sadly passed away a short time afterwards.'
Ongoing Police Investigation and Road Closures
The Moor Road remains closed to all road users between Washingbay Road and Gortgonis Road as investigations continue. Police are actively appealing to the public for assistance with their enquiries.
Chief Inspector Simpson added: 'Our enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have digital footage which could assist with our investigation, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 651 of 28/01/26.'
Recent Tragic Context on Northern Ireland Roads
This devastating incident follows another recent fatal road collision in Northern Ireland that claimed multiple lives. In a separate tragedy, a pregnant woman and her unborn baby died following a crash in Crumlin, County Antrim.
Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco, a Filipino healthcare worker, was killed while travelling as a passenger in a collision between a blue Ford Fiesta and a silver Skoda Superb. Her husband, Ralph Singco, died a day later from injuries sustained in the same accident, which saw eight people rushed to hospital for treatment.
Community Impact and Personal Tragedy
The recent spate of fatal road incidents has deeply affected communities across Northern Ireland. In the Crumlin case, hours before the collision, Ms Singco had shared a poignant Facebook memory from her last wedding anniversary - a video of her and her husband dancing in the snow at Jungfraujoch railway station in Switzerland.
The original post from January 10, 2025, celebrating five years of marriage, contained the caption 'cheers to 5 years of love as husband and wife', adding a particularly heartbreaking dimension to the tragedy.
Emergency services including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, and the air ambulance were dispatched to both collision scenes, highlighting the serious nature of these incidents and the coordinated response required.
These consecutive tragedies have raised concerns about road safety across Northern Ireland, with authorities continuing their investigations into both fatal collisions while communities mourn the loss of life.
