Ballyrobin Road: Woman dies after car collides with bus near international airport

A woman has died after her car collided with a bus on the road leading to Belfast International Airport.

The accident involving an airport shuttle double-decker and a black Citroen C1 happened at approximately 8am this morning.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called to reports of the incident on the Ballyrobin Road near Templepatrick.

However, the female driver of the Citroen was pronounced dead at the scene.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The driver of the bus, a man in his sixties, was taken to hospital with serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

“The Ballyrobin Road remains closed at this time.

“Our enquiries are continuing, and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have digital footage which could assist with our investigation, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 341 14/02/26.”

Several Translink services to and from the international airport have been cancelled.

Photographs from the scene show the road closed off and the blue bus partially off the road.

The front of the bus was visibly damaged.

The road is expected to remain closed for most of Saturday.

Three fire appliances including the specialist rescue team were deployed to the incident.

The NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) also sent multiple resources to the scene.

A spokesperson for NIAS said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 7:58am following reports of a RTC involving a bus and car on Ballyrobin Road.

“NIAS despatched four emergency crews, two HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) crews, three ambulance officers and two ambulance doctors to the incident.

“Ambulance Control also tasked the Air Ambulance, with HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) team on board, to attend.

Emergency services are in attendance and diversions are in place. © Andrew McCarroll/ Pacemaker Pres

“Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital.”

This afternoon the PSNI warned the road will be closed for some time to come.

A spokesperson said: “The Ballyrobin Road in Templepatrick will be closed for a number of hours due to a serious collision between a bus and a car this morning.

“Particularly if travelling to the airport today, please leave extra travel time for your journey as you may need to take another route. Diversions are in place at the roundabout of the Ballyrobin Road, Old Ballyrobin Road at its junction with Ballyrobin Road and Rickmore Road Upper.

“If travelling to the airport from the M2, travel through Templepatrick then take the A6 Belfast Road for approximately three miles before turning left onto A26 Oldstone Road for three miles then turn right onto Ballyrobin Road and continuing as normal to the airport.”