Motorcyclist dies in early morning crash

Alexander Redpath, was speaking after a motorcyclist in his 20’s was killed shortly before 7.50am when he was involved in a collision with a silver coloured Hyundai Coupe car, close to the junction with the Causeway End Road.

The male driver of the car was taken to hospital but his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Inspector Paul McCarron appealed for witnesses to come forward and to contact the Collision Investigation Unit at Steeple Police Station or local police in Lisburn Police Station on the non-emergency number 101.

Mr Redpath said: “This is a terrible tragedy and I want to pass on the thoughts and good wishes of the entire community to the grieving family.

“There is an ongoing issue with road safety on the Knockmore Road.

“At the location of this collision there is a three lane carriageway with a 50 mph limit.There are over a dozen junctions along the length of these roads many of which lead to housing developments with no other access to a main road.

“As part of the development of this area the Department of the Environment were supposed to ensure that developers made necessary road improvements.

“Oweing the collapse of the housing market and the insolvency of some of the developers these improvements were never made.”

Mayor of Lisburn councillor Andrew Ewing said: “This is devastating news. It has been an awful week for fatalities on our roads. There is a feeling of shock and deep sadness in the community.”