Call for traffic calming after truck crash

Date Published: {J}

by Frank Farragher

PARENTS of children at the national school where a lorry crashed into the yard last week are meeting tonight in an effort to get Galway County Council to put a series of traffic calming measures in place.

Local residents, parents, school management and public representatives are meeting tonight (Tuesday) in Cregmore National School (8.30) following the ‘miracle escape’ on Wednesday last, when an articulated truck crashed through the schoolyard wall.

Eleven cars were damaged in the accident which occurred at 1.42pm as the younger children at the school – located beside a crossroads between Carnmore and Turloughmore – were leaving class to be picked up by their parents.

No serious injuries resulted, although a number of children and adults were hospitalised as a precautionary measure – already the incident is being described as ‘the miracle of Cregmore Cross’.

A spokesperson for the Cregmore Area Residents Association (CARA) told The Sentinel that at least they hoped the incident would bring the issue to a head with Galway County Council.

“As recently as late last year we had a meeting with Galway County Council where we outlined a series of issues, including that of speed control measures, in the vicinity of Cregmore School.

“We just cannot rely on another miracle to save the lives of parents and children at the school. We know that we are so lucky to have survived an absolute catastrophe last Wednesday,” said the spokesperson.

He said that as an immediate measure, the installation of electronic signage asking drivers to slow down and reminding them of their current speed should take place.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.