Three men have died within a day of each other due to injuries sustained in separate road crashes.

The men have all been named: Daniel McCallister (18), Richard Maze (70), and Robert Lee (49).

Mr McCallister was involved in a crash on the Cladymilltown Road to the south of Markethill, Co Armagh, just before 10.45pm on Monday involving a blue Volkswagen Touran and a blue Volkswagen Jetta (the latter driven by Mr McCallister).

Mr McCallister had been in hospital too but this morning police revealed that he had died on Wednesday afternoon.

placeholder image — Daniel McCallister and Robert Lee died as a result of separate crashes, as did a third man, Richard Maze (not pictured)

The other driver remains in a criticial condition in hospital.

The crash which killed Mr Maze was on the Boa Island Road (which runs from Belleek eastwards near Lower Lough Erne) at about 2.55pm on Thursday.

Mr Maze was the rider of a motorcycle that was in collision with a dark-coloured car that failed to stop, and he died at the scene.

Police have since charged a man, also aged 70 years old, with causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop, failing to remain where the accident occurred, and failing to report an accident, and he is due to appear at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 14.

Then this afternoon police announced another fatality: Robert Lee, who died at the scene of a crash on Frosses Road in north Antrim at around 11.20am on Thursday involving a silver Honda Civic (driven by Mr Lee) and a Scania lorry.

– ‘WHOLE COMMUNITY NUMB’ –

TUV councillor Keith Ratcliffe lives not far from the McCallister family, and described Daniel as a "very nice young lad - definitely a nice young fellow," adding that the death is "all people are really talking about” in the Markethill and Tandragee areas.

He added: "You just can't comprehend that coming home to your door.

"I've children myself - my daughter just passed her driving test a couple of months ago.

"A young fellow coming into the prime of his life - it's just so sad. Eighteen, and he's gone. It's felt by the whole community. It really numbs the whole community. See when it's someone so young, it really hits home."

He was from the townland of Clare, south of Tandragee, and worked at a cattle market – Markethill Livestock & Farm Sales.

The business posted a notice on Facebook saying: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of young Daniel McCallister.

“Daniel was a valued member of our mart team and we pass on our sincere sympathies to Daniel’s parents, William & Barbara, his siblings and the wider family circle at this very difficult time.

“We will pause during our sale tomorrow (Saturday 21st Sep) at 11:30am to reflect on Daniel's passing together as a mart community.”

Markethill High School meanwhile said: “On behalf of the entire Markethill High School family, we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the McCallister family following the loss of their dear son and brother, Daniel, who left us in 2022.

“The McCallister Family are extremely well known in this area and there is much sadness and shock within the local community.

"We will continue to keep Mr and Mrs McCallister, Sarah, Jack, Kathryn and Samuel (all past pupils of Markethill High School) in our thoughts and prayers at this very difficult time.”

His funeral is set to take place St John’s Parish Church, Mullabrack, on Sunday at 2.30pm, followed by a private committal in the adjoining churchyard.

A funeral notice describes him as the “much loved brother of Sarah, Jack, Kathryn and Samuel, dear brother-in-law of Adam, cherished grandson of Jackie and Eileen and a dear uncle and nephew,” and adds: “Family and friends welcome to call at his home on Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 9pm.”

Meanwhile, Mr Maze was reportedly a former safety officer with the fire brigade, serving with the organisation for over 30 years before working for fire safety consultancy FRSNI.