A farmer has died in a car accident in Co Derry.

James McCollum, known as Jim, died following a one-vehicle road collision on the Curragh Road in Coleraine.

The Landrover jeep he was driving collided with a tree shortly after 3pm on Tuesday afternoon.

It is understood the 75 year old was returning from Kilrea livestock mart when the accident happened.

Jim farmed in Blagh, outside Coleraine, and was married with grown-up children.

Farming community

George Duddy, DUP councillor told the Irish Farmers Journal that Jim was highly respected in the farming community.

“The family have been farming there for generations so they are very well known, not only in the Coleraine area but much further afield.”

Jim was a beef and tillage farmer. In the past the farm provided local employment during the potato picking season.

William McCandless, a UUP councillor, worked on the farm picking potatoes and said Jim was a well-respected farmer in the area.

Inspector Purvis has asked anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any information which could assist the police investigation to contact officers at the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 quoting reference number 753 07/03/17.

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