SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has said the A5 road cannot be allowed to claim anymore lives.

He was speaking after two people were killed on the Doogary Road, near Omagh on Tuesday night.

Mr McCrossan said immediate action was needed to progress the road upgrade.

West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said:

“Once again we wake up this morning to the devastating news that two young people have lost their lives on the A5 road. My thoughts are with their families and friends today as they come to terms with this tragedy. I cannot imagine what they are going through and I know the community will rally around them.

“Since the return of Stormont we have already seen a number of deaths on the A5, this is happening on a regular basis and our community can not continue to brave these losses. Every day people are leaving their homes to travel on this road, causing huge worry in their families who can’t be sure that they will come home.

“We need to progress on the A5 redevelopment, we cannot afford any more delays, people’s lives are literally are stake and no excuse can be justified. We need to see the Infrastructure Minister publish the PAC findings and set a firm date for work to begin on the A5 before the end of this year. This news today is another awful reminder of the danger that everyone who travels on this road faces and it is long past time we do something about it.”