THE father of the one-year-old baby who died in a single-vehicle road traffic collision outside Antrim is understood to be a member of the Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan.
It is understood the child and its family lived at RAF Aldergrove, just a few miles from Antrim town.
Another two-year-old child and two women – their mothers – were taken to hospital for treatment as a result of the incident on the Dublin Road at about 9.50am on Monday.
The injured child was said to be in a “stable condition” last night in the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast.
A source told the News Letter: “The death of a one-year-old has touched everyone. The two mothers and their children had been on a shopping trip when the accident happened.
“They had been buying things for a birthday party. What has happened is unthinkable for any parent.”
A spokesman for the Army declined to comment.
Both mothers, who received minor injuries, were released from hospital after the crash.
Around the same time on Monday 39-year-old Sean Scallon from Co Carlow was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Co Tyrone.
Mr Scallon was killed when two lorries collided on Ballynakilly Road, Coalisland.
Detectives in Dungannon have renewed their appeal for witnesses to the collision.
A second man injured in the collision – understood to be from outside Cookstown – was last night said to be in a “critical condition” in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Maurice Morrow MLA said he arrived at the scene of the Coalisland collision just as the wreckage was being loaded for towing away.
“It was a very distressing sight to see two lorries reduced to such a state,” he said.
Lord Morrow added: “My thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the man who died, who I understand was from the Republic of Ireland. I also want to pass on my best wishes for the recovery of the other driver and assure him and his family they are in my thoughts.
“Yesterday (Monday) was a particularly dark day for Co Tyrone and this accident came swiftly after a fatal motorcycle collision on the M1. I extend my sympathies to the family of the victim in that incident also.
“I also want to commend the emergency services who did everything they possibly could at the scene of both collisions.”
Less than 12 hours earlier, Cookstown funeral director Robin Steenson, 71, lost his life in a motorcycle accident on the M1 motorway near Dungannon.
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