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Crash site was not accident black
spot
22.07.10
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
THE SCENE of last Sunday week’s collision in which
eight local men lost their lives had not been
identified as an accident black spot prior to the
horrific crash.
The stretch of road at Glasmullen, between Clonmany
and Drumfries, is not included in a list of accident
black spots drawn up by Donegal County Council in
consultation with the Gardai to identify hazardous
locations where remedial roadworks could improve
safety. Those minor remedial works include
installing crash barriers, erecting warning signs,
providing chevrons around bends, central hatching
and traffic islands, and adding anti-skid surface
dressing. |
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Funding of more than
€500,000 has been provided for these remedial works
by the National Roads Authority and the Department
of Transport. Six sites in Inishowen are among 22
identified across Donegal.
Those are at Claggan, Moville; Ballyloskey Bridge,
Carndonagh; Burnfoot Village; Fallask crossroads at
Umricam; Kildrum junctions between Newtown and
Killea and Magherabeg near Manorcunningham.
However, council officials told Tuesday’s Inishowen
Electoral Area meeting that should Garda
investigations of the Glasmullen site reveal that
road engineering contributed to the fatal collision,
the Department of Transport has given verbal
assurances that funding will be provided to remedy
it.
The Garda investigation into what has been described
as the worst crash in the history of the State
continues. The driver of the Volkswagen Passat in
which seven men lost their lives, remains in a
stable condition in Letterkenny General Hospital.
His condition is such that he has not yet been
interviewed by Gardaí.
A minute's silence was held before Tuesday’s annual
general meeting of Inishowen Electoral Area
councillors.
Extending sympathy to all the bereaved families,
outgoing chairman Cllr Bernard McGuinness spoke of
the deep sense of shock that continues to be felt
throughout Inishowen. Cllr McGuinness and his fellow
councillors paid tribute to the fire service,
Gardai, ambulance service, clergy, doctors and
undertakers who attended the scene.
Cllr McGuinness also complimented the Inishowen
community for the way in which they rallied around
the bereaved families. “The people of Inishowen were
not found wanting in any way,” he said. |
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