A man in his 60s has died following a serious single-vehicle collision involving a lorry in County Tyrone on Monday morning. The fatality occurred on the Donaghanie Road near Omagh, prompting a major incident response from emergency services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Incident Details and Police Confirmation
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene after police received reports of a collision at approximately 10:20 GMT on Monday. The incident involved a single heavy goods vehicle on the Donaghanie Road. Despite the rapid arrival of responders, the driver of the lorry was pronounced dead at the scene.
The PSNI confirmed the tragic loss of life and immediately closed the road to allow specialist collision investigation teams to conduct a thorough examination of the area. The investigation is focused on establishing the precise circumstances that led to the crash.
Identification of the Deceased
The deceased has been formally identified by police as Gerard Rafferty, a man in his 60s. Mr. Rafferty was well-known locally by his nickname, ‘Jock’.
Police confirmed that Mr. Rafferty was from the nearby Derrylaughan area, with established links to Maghery, County Armagh. The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the local communities in both Tyrone and Armagh.
Ongoing Investigation and Appeal for Witnesses
The PSNI Roads Policing and Investigation Unit has launched a formal inquiry into the fatal collision. Authorities are appealing to the public for assistance, particularly those who may have been travelling on the Donaghanie Road around the time of the incident.
A spokesperson urged anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have captured dashcam footage relevant to the investigation, to contact police immediately to aid their ongoing efforts to determine the full sequence of events.
