A profound sense of loss has settled over the Ballymoney community after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed that 57‑year-old John Elder died in a two‑vehicle collision on Thursday morning. The fatal crash happened on Windyhill Road, between Limavady and Coleraine, when a lorry and a white Peugeot Partner van collided just after 9:45 a.m.
Emergency services hurried to the scene, including fire crews from Coleraine and Limavady. The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service later said they made the scene safe and supported other agencies, but tragically, Mr. Elder, who was driving the van, was pronounced dead there.
Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson of the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit offered her condolences and confirmed detectives are now examining exactly how the crash happened. She particularly appealed to anyone who saw what happened or who filmed it — whether on a phone or a dash-cam — to come forward.
According to the PSNI, callers should quote the reference number 381 20/11/25 if they have any information to share. The Windyhill Road, which was closed after the crash, has since reopened.
News outlets confirm that Mr. Elder was from the Ballymoney area. While there’s no public word yet on what caused the collision, the ongoing inquiry underscores how seriously the PSNI is treating this.
Families, friends, and local residents are in mourning. The suddenness of the loss has shaken the tight‑knit Ballymoney community, where Mr. Elder was known. The investigation’s appeal for witnesses hints that even small details—someone’s dash-cam, a passerby’s memory—might help bring clarity and some measure of closure.
As detectives continue their work, the PSNI is urging anyone with relevant information to step forward. The hope is that through shared recollections or footage, a full picture of what happened on that quiet stretch of road can emerge.
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