At a Glance
- A pregnant Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco and husband Ralph died after a Jan. 11 crash on Moira Road near Nutts Corner, Crumlin
- Cathrene and the unborn baby died Monday, Jan. 12; Ralph died Tuesday, Jan. 13
- The couple had celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary on Jan. 10 with a Facebook post from a Switzerland trip
- Six others sustained minor injuries; police continue to investigate
- Why it matters: The tragedy has renewed safety concerns on a stretch of road with a history of fatal collisions
A pregnant Filipino health worker and her husband have died from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash that occurred in Crumlin, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland-just one day after the couple marked their sixth wedding anniversary.
Cathrene Kith Quiñones Singco, who was in her 30s, and husband Ralph, also in his 30s, were involved in the collision on Moira Road near Nutts Corner shortly after 2:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, Jan. 11, police confirmed to multiple outlets.
Final Anniversary Post
On Jan. 10, Cathrene shared a Facebook post commemorating the couple’s sixth wedding anniversary. The post featured photos and video from a trip to Switzerland, including footage of the pair dancing together in the snow.
“From traveling as two to traveling as three puhon,” Cathrene wrote to Ralph. “Happy 6th years married.”
The comments section of the post has since filled with messages of condolence.
Sequence of Events
- Jan. 10: Couple celebrates sixth wedding anniversary and shares Facebook post
- Jan. 11, 2:00 p.m.: Crash occurs on Moira Road near Nutts Corner
- Jan. 12: Cathrene and unborn baby die in hospital
- Jan. 13: Ralph dies in hospital
According to police, Cathrene was seated in the back seat at the time of impact. She and her unborn child were pronounced dead in hospital on Monday, Jan. 12. Ralph succumbed to his injuries the following day, Tuesday, Jan. 13.
Six additional people involved in the collision sustained only minor injuries.
Ongoing Investigation
Detective Inspector Stewart of the Collision Investigation Unit stated that enquiries remain active.
“We are investigating what happened and require the public’s assistance with our enquiries,” Stewart said, per local reports.
Authorities have appealed for:
- Any witnesses who saw the crash
- Drivers who may have dash-cam footage of Moira Road around 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 11
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit directly.
Road Safety Concerns
Declan Kearney, Sinn Féin MLA for South Antrim, voiced concern about the safety record of Moira Road.
“The Moira Road has a history of traffic collisions over recent years, many resulting in fatalities and serious injury, and carries high volumes of traffic at speeds up to 60mph,” Kearney said, per The Irish Sun.
He noted that the area around Nutts Corner market includes an overtaking lane continuing from the roundabout past the market, creating added risk for vehicles entering the main carriageway.
Kearney intends to write to the Department for Infrastructure’s Divisional Roads Manager to highlight these ongoing safety issues.
“I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to all those involved,” he added.
Key Takeaways
- A single crash on Moira Road claimed three lives-mother, father, and unborn child-within 48 hours
- The tragedy occurred one day after the couple’s sixth wedding anniversary celebration
- Local representatives cite a history of fatal collisions on the same road, prompting renewed calls for safety reviews
- Police continue to seek witnesses and dash-cam footage to determine the exact cause of the collision
