Community ‘shocked and saddened’ as student nurse killed in horror crash | UK | News

The death of a young woman in a collision between a bus and a car left local people “shocked and saddened”. Claudia Jaczyk, 23, died when the car she was driving collided with a bus on Ballyrobin Road in Templepatrick, near Belfast International Airport, on Saturday morning. The bus driver suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to police reports.

Diversions were initially implemented but have since been lifted and the road reopened on Sunday morning. Claudia, a student nurse from Newtownabbey, was remembered by staff and pupils at Glengormley Integrated Primary School as a “kind, thoughtful and hard-working student”.

She then attended Ballyclare Secondary School and has recently started training to become a nurse.

A fundraiser set up to help Claudia’s grieving family travel from her native Poland to attend her funeral and cover funeral costs has already raised more than £9,000.

A family member said in a GoFundMe appeal: “He was only 23 and had his whole life ahead of him, full of plans, dreams and hopes for the future.

“She had recently started her nursing training because it was her dream to help others. “She was a wonderful, kind and warm-hearted person who was always thinking of others.

“Our thoughts are with our family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We ask for privacy and respect.”

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“Funds raised will help the family cover expenses and other unforeseen expenses during this extremely challenging and heartbreaking time.”

SDLP South Antrim Councilor Roisin Lynch described the young woman’s death as another heartbreaking tragedy.

He said: “This is a heartbreaking tragedy and my thoughts are with this young woman’s family and friends. “It is never easy to lose a loved one, but it is devastating that another young person has lost their life on the roads of the North.

“My thoughts are with the driver of the bus involved in the accident and I hope he makes a full recovery.

“I know local people in the Newtownabbey area will be shocked and saddened by this news and will do all they can to support the young woman’s family.

“Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them and I would be asking people to help in any way they can.”