A WOMAN killed in a road crash in Co Antrim was described last night as a "fun and bubbly girl".
Nurse Nichola Baird, who is understood to be from the Finvoy area, died in a single vehicle collision in Ballymoney in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Ms Baird, who was believed to be aged in her early 30s, was driving on the Finvoy Road when the crash happened at around 4.30am.
The road was closed for several hours between Lasagan Road and Burn Quarter Road as police investigations were carried out.
Friends posted tributes last night on social media.
One said: "So sad. Nichola was such a fun and bubbly girl who was so full of life! Rest in peace sweetheart".
"Rest in peace sweet angel. Beautiful inside and out. My heart is with your family at this time," she added.
Another friend described her as a "beautiful girl" and said she "always had a big smile on her face" while another said: "I knew her from the gym, she was a big character that loved life and always said hello".
DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said the death "marks yet another tragic story on our roads".
"I want to express my sympathy to the women’s family and friends as they come to terms with this devastating news," he said.
"At this time my thoughts and prayers are with the family of this young woman. It will come as a shock to both the family and friends but also the Ballymoney and Rasharkin communities.
"I would urge road users to take care and drive with caution. One life lost on our roads is one too many."
Ulster Unionist councillor Darryl Wilson said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the woman's death.
"This news has been a devastating blow for a local family and indeed the entire community," he said.
"I would like to offer my deepest sympathies. It is a very dangerous stretch of road and there have been a number of fatalities in recent years."
Sinn Féin councillor Cathal McLaughlin described the death as "devastating news for the local community" adding his thoughts were with the victim and her family.
