The second death of a motorcyclist in a crash on a notorious Co Down road has led to renewed calls for safety measures.
In the latest fatality, a man was killed in the incident on the Portaferry Road in Newtownards on Thursday evening.
The man, believed to be in his 30s, was riding a Honda motorcycle which collided with a wall in the Teal Rocks area shortly before 7pm.
Read more: Portaferry Road: Call for safety improvements on 'dangerous' Co Down road
It comes exactly a month after a 58-year-old man died after a two-vehicle collision on the same stretch of road.
Lee Noble was riding a grey Kawasaki motorbike which was involved in the collision with a car just after midnight on Tuesday, June 28. Mr Noble died as a result of his injuries.
The driver of the red Nissan car was taken to hospital for treatment for "minor injuries".
Separately, a man in his 60s was taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries following a collision on the same road last month.
The incidents have raised fresh concerns about the safety of the notoriously dangerous stretch of road after multiple accidents in recent years.
Alliance Strangford MLA Nick Mathison has expressed his sympathies following the latest death but said such tragedies were sadly all too familiar.
Mr Mathison, who has been involved in a road safety campaign at the location for several years, said: "My thoughts and sympathies go to the loved ones of the man who died in this accident.
"My thanks also go to the PSNI officers and emergency services who attended the scene, as well as local residents, who had access to their homes restricted throughout the night.
"There have been many accidents and near misses at this location over the past number of years and sadly we are looking at tragedy once again.
"I have been campaigning alongside local residents of the nearby Teal Rocks development, all of whom recognise the danger of a national speed limit at this location, which is a windy, rural road.
"This tragic incident further highlights the need for the Department for Infrastructure to urgently review the speed limit on this stretch of road. It is not safe for residents, it is not safe for pedestrians and it is not safe for drivers and sadly we are now witnessing the consequences."
Michael Palmer is a local resident in Newtownards who uses the Portaferry Road regularly, and has also been raising concerns about its safety for many years.
He told Belfast Live : "I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the man who has very sadly lost his life. I was thinking about the accident and its impact all of last night.
"Only weeks before this accident at this self-evidently dangerous stretch of road, I had said the Department for Infrastructure should consider urgently reducing the speed limit in an attempt to make the road safer.
"I also believe the footpath between the Flood Gates and Teal Rocks should be widened to accommodate two people passing each other as right now, it is too narrow. It's unsafe, especially during the summer when it is used more frequently."
Mr Palmer added: "I appeal to the Department yet again to reduce the speed limit and widen the footpath. I am happy to meet with the Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to discuss the problems with the Portaferry Road. I even invite him to come out here and see it for himself.
"The new Minister has a chance to implement much-needed safety improvements to the road. I urgently ask the Department to please do so."
In response, a DfI spokesperson said: "“We are all aware that every fatality on our roads is a tragedy for everybody impacted by such traumatic events, especially the families and friends of those whose lives have been lost. The Department extends its sincere sympathies to those directly impacted at this very difficult time.
"All fatal collisions are investigated by the PSNI who will share any relevant findings with the Department and we will work closely with them to assist with their enquiries and take forward any actions that are within the remit of the Department.”
A PSNI spokesperson said officers from the Collision Investigation Unit are investigating Thursday night's crash and are asking witnesses and anyone who may have captured dashcam footage to please get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference 1568 28/07/22.
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