Motorist Madness

GARDAÍ are continuing to investigate the near-fatal car pileup on the M7 last week as speculation mounts that criminal proceedings will be launched.

A truck jack-knifed after running into the back of a HGV in thick fog last Thursday shortly before 8am between junction 15 and 16 near Portlaoise.

The collision set off a chain reaction as desperate motorists clambered to slow down, which led to the pile-up that involved up to a dozen vehicles.

The pile-up led to at least four individual accidents.

These included the initial HGV collision as well as a three-vehicle car accident.

Units from Portlaoise and Stradbally fire station attended the scene.

Such was the velocity of the first crash that the cab of the truck was almost entirely shorn off as seen in the photograph supplied by Laois Fire Services.

The driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after being cut from the cab, while several others received medical attention for minor injuries.

It is understood the parked truck had broken down the day beforehand and had been left at the side of the motorway prior to the accident. The driver of the parked truck was not at the scene at the time of the accident.

Garda Supt Philip Lyons said a meeting was to be held involving the National Roads Authority, Laois Co Council and local gardaí about what could be done to prevent future occurrences, including the possibly of locating mobile warning signs.

“We will have a meeting to see how we can alleviate this type of situation. There is definitely a solution. Maybe there is a need for signage,” he said.

Senior assistant chief fire officer Declan Power said that motorists had to be extra vigilant driving in such conditions. “People do not heed the conditions. They do not change their driving or speed, even in the fog,” he said.

The pile-up brought back unwanted memories for many of another massive pile-up in fog at the Curragh in March 2007, which led to the death of a 24-year-old woman. Mr Power described the conditions in last week’s incident as “almost identical” to the 2007 fatal accident.

Provided By: Laois Nationalist
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