A former Magherafelt businessman has become the first accident victim on County Derry’s roads this year.

Samuel Scott, 82, died after his car collided with another vehicle on Aughrim Road shortly before 10.30pm last Thursday night.

The road remained closed for over 12 hours as police tried to establish the cause of the accident.

Mr Scott, who lived at 11 Castle Crescent, Castledawson, was a well known businessman who ran a car dealership from premises on the Moneymore Road, Magherafelt, for many years.

The dead man’s daughter, Adele, returned from Asia this week with her husband Eugene Hutchinson to attend her father’s funeral.

Mr Hutchinson is currently the Irish ambassador to Malaysia and was formally consul general in the United States.

Mr Scott was laid to rest at Woods Parish Churchyard after a service at Magherafelt Baptist Church.

Magherafelt DUP councillor Thomas Catherwood offered his sympathies to the Scott family.

“It’s a tragedy and a sad start to the new year that a man of his years, who had a long life, that this had to be his end. I offer my sympathy to his daughter and everybody belonging to him. I sincerely hope there will be an end to these sorts of tragedies.”

Mr Scott’s death came just days after it emerged that 24 people died on County Derry’s roads during 2007.