Dramatic scenes unfolded on Hopkins Road on Wednesday as a pedestrian was struck by a delivery truck and ended up trapped under the lorry for up to half an hour. The incident unfolded at around 2.30pm, on the wet afternoon, when the rigid lorry struck a 59-year-old woman outside Dunne’s Stores. The ambulance, fire service, and gardaí attended the scene and the injured woman, who did not sustain serious injuries, was brought to Mayo General Hospital.
Mayor of Castlebar Ger Deere said the incident raises concerns about the need for more pedestrian crossings in the town, something which he alongside other Fine Gael town councillors have campaigned for. While a number of pedestrian crossings have been placed throughout Castlebar in recent times Cllr Deere suggested that the shopping area surrounding Dunne’s and Tesco particularly needs to be a “more pedestrian friendly area”.
The Mayor is also calling for action to be taken to improve safety of the recently altered roundabout close to the bus stop in Castlebar, a matter he is due to raise at the next town council meeting.
According to Cllr Deere, the tiny roundabout island has five exits and is clearly a serious risk to passing vehicles and pedestrians attempting to cross the roads connecting to the roundabout, with “regular near misses taking place” at this location.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin councillor and chairperson of Iompar Castlebar Thérèse Ruane has tabled a motion for next Thursday’s meeting of Castlebar Town Council regarding traffic in the town. Cllr Ruane is seeking advanced stop lines giving cyclists priority at traffic lights to be put in place on any relining, new markings, or upgrading of roads in the town. The councillor believes that “Castlebar as a town has the potential to be a very cycle friendly town and the passing of this motion is just one more step in the right direction.”
