‘To know him was to love him’ – Malek Kerbache family tribute to ‘loyal and much-loved’ dad

Malek Kerbache died following a two-vehicle collision on Glenavy Road in the Upper Ballinderry area on Saturday, April 25

The heartbroken loved ones of a much-loved family man who died in a crash have paid tribute saying “to know him was to love him”.

Malek Kerbache, 41, died on Saturday, April 25, following a crash involving a car and motorcyclist on Glenavy Road in the Upper Ballinderry area.

Following the dad-of-one’s funeral service in Portadown on Thursday, his family have paid tribute to Malek and said he was “a doer who just got the job done with a smile on his face”.

Paying tribute the Kerbache and Rodgers families said: “The most commonly used words to describe Malek over the last few days have been: Gentle, calm, caring, loyal, friendly, generous, talented, chatty, sociable, kind, funny, a gentleman and exceptional.

“For Malek nothing was ever too much trouble, a doer who just got the job done with a smile on his face. To know him was to love him, a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

Motorcyclist Mateusz Prokopiuk, 31, also died in the same collision. Both men were from the Portadown area.

In a police appeal, officers asked anyone who may have any information that could help them as part of the investigation into the two men’s deaths to contact them.

Detective Inspector Dave Stewart, from the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit, said, “The driver of the white Tesla Model Y, who died, has been named as Malek Kerbache. The motorcyclist on the black Honda CBR 600, who died, has been named as Mateusz Prokopiuk. A passenger in the Tesla was taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries but has since been discharged.

“Our enquiries are continuing and anyone who was in the area at the time, who may have witnessed the incident or who has dashcam or mobile phone footage or any other information, should contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1142 25/04/26.

“You can also submit a report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.