'Well-known' 69-year-old man tragically dies following road traffic collision in County Fermanagh
More tragedy has hit Northern Ireland’s roads after a 69-year-old man passed away following a single-vehicle road traffic collision in County Fermanagh on Thursday afternoon.
Francis Lynch from the Rosslea area sadly died from his injuries at the scene after the collision in the Dernawilt Road area of Lisnaskea.
Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson from the Collision Investigation Unit stated that whilst colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended the scene, Mr Lynch was pronounced dead.
The Dernawilt Road was closed for some time but has since re-opened to the public.
Responding to the sad news, DUP MLA Deborah Erskine wrote the following on Facebook: “Devastating news this morning that another life has been lost on our roads. Behind all the statistics is a family grieving and my thoughts are with them today.
"Please take care on our roads. A split second can change everything.
“Once again thank you to the emergency services who attended the scene. My prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.”
UUP MLA Diane Armstrong echoed those comments and passed on her condolences to Mr Lynch’s family.
She said: "Last night, I was travelling on the Derawilt Road and came upon the road diversion following the fatal crash at the Dernawilt Road, and on learning of the fatality my immediate thoughts and sympathies were with the family of Francis Lynch who received this shocking news last night. The wider local community, who I was with last night, expressed their deep sorrow and shock at the death of this well known man.
"This is yet another awful tragedy on our rural roads, bringing the death toll in Fermanagh to three within the last two weeks. I urge all road users to exercise extreme caution when driving, to plan and allow time for their journeys particularly given the poor surface and road marking conditions in the West.
"I would also like to place on record my thanks to the emergency services who attended last night and remained on the scene for many hours on a dark and very wet night."
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MLA Áine Murphy has said the Fermanagh community are in shock following the confirmation of another death on the roads in the county.
"Firstly, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Francis Lynch," she added.
"Francis was well known in our community and his loss will be devastating for his family, friends and the surrounding area.
"The news that another person has lost their life on our roads is a tragedy and has shocked the local community.
"I would urge drivers to exercise caution and be extra vigilant when travelling on our roads.
"I want to also pay tribute to the emergency services who attended the scene."
Collision Investigation Unit detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or to anyone who may have CCTV, dash-cam or any other footage that could assist with enquiries, to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1048 of 11/12/25.
Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
Funeral details are yet to be confirmed at this stage.