A poignant picture has emerged showing teenager Kamile Vaicikonyte’s signature on a petition calling for an urgent upgrade of the A5 on which she lost her life hours later.
Kamile and Jamie Moore (19), from Omagh were killed in a single-vehicle crash near Ballygawley on Tuesday.
Their deaths bring to 56 the number of people killed on the A5 since a planned upgrade to the road was first announced at Stormont 17 years ago.
The latest tragedy has placed the north’s infrastructure minister John O’Dowd under increasing pressure to announce that work will begin on upgrading the road with a dual carriageway through counties Tyrone and Derry, but advisers are warning any move forward needs to be legally watertight.
Department officials received a final advisory report from the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) at the end of last October but a final decision has not been made.
A funeral for Jamie Moore will be held at Omagh’s Mountjoy Presbyterian Church on Saturday.
Reverend Jonathan Cowan told The Irish News that his family were “bereft at the loss of their beloved son”, who was a former pupil at Omagh High School.
“Jonathan was a much-loved young man, who worked in the local Asda, and enjoyed very much playing football and spending time at the gym,” he said.
“He had a wide circle of friends and will be remembered fondly for his fun-loving nature.
“As a church community, we will surround the Moore family with our love and support as they navigate the difficult times ahead.”
Ms Vaicikonyte died just a day after she took part in an event at her school, St Ciaran’s in Ballygawley, calling for the long-awaited work on the A5 upgrade to begin.
She signed a petition calling for work to start as soon as possible. The teenager’s best friend, Triniti Keleman, joined calls for “serious changes” to be made to the road.
“My best-friend and her boyfriend (weren’t) the first, and won’t be last to die on that road. It’s been 17 years since we been waiting for a change. Make it happen ASAP,” Ms Keleman said.
She added: “Kamile and I were always best friends, and she just recently turned 17.
“I remember how excited she was to get her licence and drive around Ireland this summer, but sadly that is not happening.
“The A5 took my bubbly, pretty and smart best friend. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through the same thing I’m going through.”
Mr O’Dowd, since taking up his post following the re-establishment of the Executive in February, has been “fully briefed” on the PAC recommendations.
“My officials are working at pace on detailed consideration of the recommendations, and I hope to make an announcement on the project in the coming months,” Mr O’Dowd told the Assembly late last month.
“I want to be assured beyond reasonable doubt that my officials and I, along with legal advice, have gone through it line by line and that I am living up to my statutory obligations before making any further announcement.
“The worst thing that we can do for those who have lost their life on the A5, their families and the communities that use it is make an announcement that is then overturned in the courts. I know that it is taking time and is frustrating — I understand that — but I want to get this one right.”
Officials expect another judicial challenge if it is announced work will begin. However, there is a belief any challenge will be fast tracked because legal issues around the upgrade have already been considered by the courts and through the planning process.
Niall McKenna, chair of the A5 Enough is Enough campaign group, said the latest “tragic fatalities...of two young people cut down in their prime, demonstrate the urgency of the delivery of the new A5″.
Mr McKenna said: “The catastrophic mix of traffic on this road, which was designed for a bygone era, is resulting in an accident and death-rate that can only be described as grotesque.”
Speaking at the NI Policing Board meeting on Thursday, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said officers would be meeting Mr O’Dowd in June to “discuss all proactive measures possible” regarding the A5.
“We will very much meet the infrastructure minister and we will do anything and everything within our power to make sure, whether it’s speed reduction or increased visibility, that we do our part in preventing these tragedies from occurring again,” he said.
