A man who died in a road accident at the weekend had recently claimed he was the victim of a campaign of intimidation aimed at forcing him out of his home village.

Sam Watson died when two cars collided on the Frocess Road near to Dunloy on Saturday evening.

Mr Watson, who lived close to Dunloy, was a passenger in a red Peugeot car which was in collision with a red Alfa Romeo in an area known as the Dunloy cross.

The drivers of the Peugeot and the Alfa Romeo were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries which have been described as ‘non life-threatening’.

The road was closed throughout the night and re-opened yesterday morning.

In February Mr Watson, a Protestant in his 40s, told a local newspaper that threats had been made by republicans to burn down his house.

He also claimed he had been told by police of a “viable threat” to his home and advised him to take precautions.

“I have had windows smashed and now a threat to burn me out but it won’t stop me from going about my daily business,” said Mr Watson.

“I won’t be intimidated by these cowards.

“I have a handicapped daughter of 18 and you can imagine how she feels about this.

“She’s not sleeping at night with this threat hanging over us.”

A PSNI spokesman said at the time that police could not comment on the personal security of individuals but confirmed a number of ‘live’ investigations were taking place surrounding complaints made by Mr Watson.

There is no suggestion that the alleged threats to Mr Watson were in any way related to his death.

North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey last night extended his sympathy to the family of the dead man.

“Again this is a sad loss of life on that stretch of road,” said Mr Storey.

“Such tragedies underline the danger we all face on our roads.

“It is extremely sad for the family of the deceased and my thoughts are with them and those who were injured in the accident at this time.”

Further tragedy struck on Northern Ireland’s roads in Belfast, also on Saturday evening.

A 40-year-old man died in a crash on the Westlink around 9.30pm.

A second man who was a passenger in the car was taken to hospital where he is in a critical condition.

It is believed the pair were travelling in a silver coloured Mercedes car between the turn-offs for York Street and Clifton Street.

Earlier that day, also on the Frocess Road where Mr Watson died, a 25-year-old woman was left in a critical condition when the car she was in crashed near Glarryford around 10am.

Four other people in the car — a blue Nissan Almera — were injured.

All are believed to be on holiday in Northern Ireland from America and none of the injuries suffered are serious.

Meanwhile, a woman in her 20s was hit by a car on Londonderry's Buncrana Road shortly before 1.45pm on Saturday.

She was taken to hospital for injuries also described as critical.

Police have appealed for witnesses to all of the above incidents to contact them on 0845 600 8000.

The deaths bring the number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads so far this year to 47.