TWO pedestrians were knocked down and killed in separate crashes just 12 hours apart yesterday.
A pedestrian, believed to be in his seventies, was killed after he was hit by a car in west Belfast last night.
The man, named locally as Jim Maxwell, was knocked down and killed on Donegall Road at about 7.20pm.
Ambulance crews were sent to the accident but Mr Maxwell, a married father and grandfather, died at the scene.
The pensioner was from the St James's area of west Belfast. It is understood his family rushed to the scene as he was given the Last Rites.
The death came just 12 hours after a male pedestrian was killed at Moira Road roundabout in Co Down yesterday morning.
Chair of St James's community forum Briege Brownlee, who was at the scene, said the community had been left stunned by Mr Maxwell's death
"He was a very well respected member of the community," she said.
"Everyone is just shocked by what happened.
"It's hard for the family. It would be hard at any time but especially at this time of year."
Ms Brownlee said she was concerned several street lights were broken in the area.
"We have been in contact with our local MLA (Sinn Féin's) Fra McCann who is pushing the DRD (Department for Regional Development) for the lights to be fixed," she said.
"It's very dark in the area."
In Co Down, a man died after he was hit by a lorry at Moira Roundabout at around 7.30am.
The road was closed from 7pm to 8pm last night to allow police to carry out a reconstruction to help determine the circumstances of the crash.
Meanwhile, a man remained in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast last night following a crash on Magheralane Road in Randalstown at about 6pm on Tuesday.
In Co Meath, a man in his early twenties died after the car in which he was travelling left the road just before 3am yesterday. The single vehicle collision happened at Cornelstown.
The man was a passenger in the car. The driver and second passenger were injured, although not seriously.
