Northern Ireland

Woman dies after bus forced to brake sharply on Antrim Road

The accident happened close to the Co-op store on north Belfast's Antrim Road
The accident happened close to the Co-op store on north Belfast's Antrim Road The accident happened close to the Co-op store on north Belfast's Antrim Road

THE "swift response" of the driver of a `disability' minibus has been praised as preventing further loss of life, after the death of one passenger following an accident last week.

A woman died after the bus had to "brake sharply" on Antrim Road in north Belfast around midday on Thursday.

The accident happened close to the Co-op store.

Police said yesterday: "One person who was a passenger in the minibus was injured at the time and has since passed away."

They have appealed to the driver of a car, which was in front of this minibus and a pedestrian who was crossing the road to contact officers at Tennent Street PSNI station.

Detectives are also seeking motorists who may have been driving in the area and may have captured dash cam footage.

The brother of one of the passengers echoed the appeal as he paid tribute on a residents social media group.

"A friend of our family lost her life and my brother is waiting... for a replacement part on his special wheelchair," he said.

"The special needs driver is beyond reproach, but anything anyone can share with PSNI please do and check with family and friends who maybe not on this site who may have seen or car cams - may help this not happen again.

"Without the swift response of the special needs driver another life or few may have been lost, including my brother."