Moira: shock as one-year-old boy dies in village crash involving lorry
A woman, believed to be the child's grandmother, is in hospital with serious injuries
Last updated 9th Mar 2023
A one-year-old boy has been killed in a crash involving a lorry in the Co Down village of Moira.
And a woman in her 60s, believed to be the child's grandmother, is in hospital with "serious injuries".
It is understood the boy, Frank Michael McIlduff, from Lurgan, was being pushed in a pram across the road when the collision occurred.
In a statement today (Thursday) the PSNI said it could "confirm that a boy has died is seriously injured following a single road traffic collision in the Meeting Street area of Moira yesterday, Wednesday 8th March. "
Detective Sergeant Harrison said: "We received a report shortly after 1.40pm that a lorry and two pedestrians had been involved in a road traffic collision.
“Officers attended the scene along with colleagues from the other emergency services. Sadly the boy, aged one, died at the scene.
"A woman, aged in her 60s, was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries."
Detective Sergeant Harrison continued: “The road has since fully reopened to all traffic and our investigation is now underway to establish the circumstances of the collision.
“We are appealing to anyone who was travelling in the Meeting Street or Main Street areas at this time, or who may have witnessed the collision or captured it on their dash-cam, to contact officers in the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference 969 08/03/23.”
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a report of an incident on the Meeting Street area at around 1.30pm.
Two ambulances, two officers and the NIAS Hazardous Area Response Team were dispatched to the scene.
Moira's main street and the off-slip from the M1 to the village were closed following the collision, with motorists advised to avoid the area.
Politicians have issued their condolences at the tragic news; an Alliance Party MLA said that she was "devastated" for the family involved.
"I am absolutely devastated for the family that have lost a special little child in an absolutely awful incident in Moira this afternoon," Sorcha Eastwood said on Twitter.
"My heart is just broken for them and I know we will all hold the family in prayer over the next while, God bless them all. Just devastating."
In a Facebook post, DUP MLA Paul Givan said it was "absolutely devastating news" and that his thoughts and prayers were with the families affected by "this unimaginable tragedy".
DUP MLA Emma Little-Pengelly said it was "unbelievably heartbreaking".
"I know all of our thoughts, prayers and love go out this evening to the family, parents and whole community dealing this terrible, terrible tragedy," she said on Twitter.
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