Claudia Jaczyk: Tributes paid to Newtownabbey woman named as Templepatrick crash victim

A student nurse killed in a weekend accident has been described as a wonderful, kind and warm-hearted person.

Claudia Jaczyk died after her car was in collision with a double-decker bus near Templepatrick on Saturday morning.

The 23-year-old, who was from Newtownabbey, died after the crash on the Ballyrobin Road.

A former pupil at Ballyclare Secondary School, Ms Jaczyk had recently started training to become a nurse.

A fundraiser has been started to help cover the cost of her family flying over from her native Poland to attend her funeral.

In a GoFundMe appeal, a relative said: “She had her whole life ahead of her – full of plans, dreams and hopes for the future. She had recently started nursing studies, as it was her dream to help others.

“She was a wonderful, kind and warm-hearted person who always thought of others.”

“We kindly ask for privacy and respect,” they added. “The funds raised will help the family cover expenses and other unforeseen costs during this extremely challenging and heartbreaking period.”

Ms Jaczyk was a former pupil of Glengormley Integrated Primary School.

It said staff and students were “deeply saddened” by the news.

“We remember her as a kind, thoughtful and hard-working pupil,” the school added.

SDLP councillor Roisin Lynch described the death of the young woman as another heart-breaking tragedy on our roads.

“This is heartbreaking tragedy, and my thoughts are with the family and friends of this young woman. Losing a loved one is never easy, but the loss of another young life on the North’s roads is devastating,” she said.

“My thoughts are also with the driver of the bus involved in the accident and I hope he makes a full recovery.

“I know that the local community in the Newtownabbey area will be shocked and saddened by this news and will do what they can to support the young woman’s family.

“The police have appealed to anyone who witnesses the collision to contact them, and I would ask people to help in any way they can.”

The PSNI said enquiries into the accident are ongoing.

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

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called to the scene, with Ms Jaczyk, who was the driver of the Citroën, pronounced dead at the scene.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The driver of the bus, a man in his 60s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.”

Several Translink services to and from the international airport were cancelled on 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.

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

A spokesperson for Translink said they were working closely with the police and other authorities as their investigation continues.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident. The safety and well-being of our passengers and staff is our priority,” the transport operator added.

The family fundraiser is available at GoFundMe, searching ‘In Loving memory of Claudia Jaczyk’.