Third death in road accident

The wreckage of the car which collided with a bus

A third person has died after a bus and car collided in County Antrim.

John Meehan, 80, of Victoria Road, Larne, died in hospital on Thursday morning.

Maida Meehan, 71, of Victoria Road, Larne, and Eileen Connelly, 84, of Archvale Gardens, Glengormley, died at the scene of the accident which happened at about 1600 BST on Wednesday in Larne.

Three people were injured in the accident on the Coast Road, near Drains Bay.

The Ulsterbus was travelling from Larne to Carnlough.

The police say the car ended up on the wrong side of the road.

The two elderly women who died were sitting in the back seat of the car. The police said one of them was definitely wearing a seat belt.

They took a bit of time cutting a way into the car so that would normally indicate that they were heavily trapped

Brian Greer
Fire Service

The bus driver and one of his passengers were also injured.

Three other passengers were badly shaken.

Brian Greer of the Northern Ireland Fire Service said it took officers quite some time to free those trapped in the car.

"They took a bit of time cutting a way into the car so that would normally indicate that they were heavily trapped," he said.

"There was some people injured in the bus, but they were not heavily trapped and they were removed."

Police appeal

The deaths bring to 85 the total number of people to have died on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year.

PSNI Inspector Harry Miller said police were still investigating the circumstances of the incident.

"We're very sorry for the loss of the families," he said.

"We appeal to anyone in the area who might have seen the bus leaving Larne or the car travelling towards Larne to contact us."