‘Close call’ as driver fails to stop for lollipop lady

Gardaí are investigating after the driver of a car was videoed failing to stop for a lollipop lady at a busy pedestrian crossing near a school in Knocknacarra.

Galway City Councillor Niall McNelis (Lab) has reported the ‘near miss’ incident to Salthill Garda Station and to engineers at City Hall.

A video clip of the incident, believed to have occurred last Friday morning at the crossing on the Clybaun Road, has been shared on social media.

It shows a motorist driving car straight through a zebra pedestrian crossing, despite the presence of a lollipop lady, in a high-viz jacket, holding a ‘stop’ sign, in the middle of the road trying to usher a pedestrian walking a dog across the road. Seconds earlier, a handful of people, including children, had crossed the pedestrian crossing on foot and on bikes, with the aid of the community warden. The same crossing also has amber flashing lights to highlight it is a pedestrian crossing.

The Galway City Tribune understands that Gardaí have identified the driver, who may be charged.

Cllr McNelis said “but for the grace of god” nobody was knocked down and injured or killed by the motorist.

He said when it was brought to his attention, he decided to report it to Gardaí in Salthill because it was so serious.

“It was shocking, but unfortunately I was not surprised, it’s not the first time it has happened at that crossing,” he said.

That crossing and junction is busy on mornings with children going to two nearby schools, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh and St John the Apostle.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.