Devastation after mother and young daughter killed in collision between quad and tractor near their home

Those killed in the collision near Ballycastle were Clare Smyth and her young daughter.

Another daughter who was injured in the collision on the Whitepark Road and airlifted to hospital in Belfast and is in a critical condition.

It is understood the collision involved a tractor and quad bike.

A full investigation is underway and officers have appealed to anyone who witnessed the collision or captured the collision on their dash cam to contact police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1392 12/05/20.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received an emergency call at 16:46 on Tuesday afternoon.

It despatched two rapid response paramedics, three emergency crews, one doctor and two ambulance officers to the incident.

The PSNI and Coastguard helicopter were also involved in the response.

DUP MP Ian Paisley said: “Absolutely devastating news this evening from Ballycastle.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family circle this evening who have been thrown into the depths of grief after the tragic loss of a mum and daughter in a road traffic accident.

“My Prayers are with the little sister who is in a critical condition in hospital.

“Please pray for comfort for the family circle and the local Bushmills/ Ballycastle community.”

Ulster Unionist councillor Joan Baird, who heard the emergency service sirens from her home, said grieving had been made more difficult by social distancing.

“That’s the thing about it, because your immediate response is to try to go to them,” she said.

“That’s what I thought the minute I heard about this and then I remembered ‘no I can’t do that’.

“There’ll be so many people feeling that, that they can’t go and actually give them the support and help that they need so much at this time.”

North Antrim MLA Jim Allister said: “Reports of a double family fatality in a traffic accident in the north of my constituency are distressing.

“While further details are awaited it is clear a local family has been plunged into deep mourning.”

DUP MP Ian Paisley said: “Absolutely devastating news this evening from Ballycastle.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Smith family circle this evening who have been thrown into the depths of grief after the tragic loss of a mum and daughter in a road traffic accident.

“My Prayers are with the little sister who is in a critical condition in hospital.

“Please pray for comfort for the family circle and the local Bushmills/ Ballycastle community.”