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Man killed in Co Antrim crash was "a true inspiration to everyone"

Wayne Alun-Roberts, who was killed in a road traffic collision near Toomebridge on Wednesday
Wayne Alun-Roberts, who was killed in a road traffic collision near Toomebridge on Wednesday Wayne Alun-Roberts, who was killed in a road traffic collision near Toomebridge on Wednesday

A construction worker killed in a crash in Co Antrim has been described as "one of the biggest hearted people to ever walk this earth".

Wayne Alun-Roberts, a father-of-two who was in his 30s, died on Wednesday following a crash in Toomebridge at around 7am.

The Quality Supervisor was travelling in a Rover car with a colleague when the vehicle was involved in a collision with a lorry on the Roguery Road.

Mr Roberts, who lived in Ballymena, was killed in the crash while his colleague, who was the driver of the car, was critically injured.

Both men had been on their way to work at Macrete Ireland Ltd when the crash happened.

The driver of the lorry was not injured in the crash.

Abhey Gupta, Project Manager at Macrete Ireland Ltd, last night described Mr Alun-Roberts as "very dynamic, self-motivated and ambitious".

"He was very hard-working," he said.

"He made an impact on the company. I'm still in shock. I just can't believe it. Everybody is really, really devastated especially the directors".

Mr Gupta said the workforce was also praying for the recovery of the other employee.

Friends took to social media last night to pay tributes to Mr Roberts who was a member of the Ahoghill Loyal Sons of William Flute band

In a statement on Facebook they said: "Wayne Roberts was a dedicated bandsman. anything that needed done Wayne was always there no questions asked".

Another friend said: "Absolutely devastated. Words can't even describe it, can't believe that I'm even writing this but Rest in Peace Wayne Roberts, you were without a doubt one of the biggest hearted people to ever walk this earth and a true inspiration to everyone."

Meanwhile, a teenager killed in a separate road crash in Co Armagh will be laid to rest tomorrow.

Ross Capper, who was 18, was killed on the Dungannon Road in Portadown near his family home at around 12.30am on Wednesday.

The teenager had just finished his shift at McDonald's in Portadown and was on his way home, when the collision happened.

A funeral service will take place tomorrow at 1pm at Portadown Baptist Church with burial afterwards in Tartaraghan Parish Churchyard.