Commuters face 'nightmare' of crashes

The AA has described a series of crashes on the N11 in Wicklow and south Dublin yesterday morning as "a nightmare" for commuters.

Early-morning commuters were the first to be discommoded when a serious crash occurred at 6.30am north of The Tap, between Arklow and Wicklow. The crash closed the road at that point.

Drivers who diverted inland through Rathdrum to avoid the N11 then found their alternative route blocked by another collision involving a van and a truck outside Rathdrum Cemetery.

By 8am vehicles were cleared at The Tap and the N11 traffic started to move again, but Dublin-bound commuters encountered more delays due to simultaneous crashes at Bray and Rathmichael. Tailbacks reached as far south as the Glen of the Downs and some drivers chose to divert inland via Enniskerry to Dundrum and the M50. However, yet another car crash at Lamb's Cross in Sandyford caused further delays.

The AA said commuters who reached the M50 at Dundrum were about an hour later than usual, while traffic on the M50 towards Tallaght was thereafter very congested.

"It was a nightmare morning coming from the Wicklow area," said AA Roadwatch controller Nicola Hudson.

"By 9am all crashes had been cleared from the M11/N11, but the road from Greystones to Bray and the town of Bray itself remained extremely congested. M50 southbound delays lingered for a long while as well after rush hour," she added.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed at 10am yesterday morning at Barryscourt Road, Coolock. The woman pedestrian in her 70s was injured when a double-decker bus knocked her down. She was taken to Beaumont Hospital where she later died.

Gardaí have named the man killed in a fatal road collision on Thursday morning at Dysart, Galway, as 29-year-old Alan Gately, of Knockcroghery, Roscommon.

A 3½-year-old boy was last night in a critical condition after he was injured in a crash in east Clare yesterday morning.

Four members of one family - all non-Irish nationals - were taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick after the crash involving two vehicles on the Whitegate Rd outside Mountshannon in east Clare.

According to the HSE, "The parents and daughter are described as stable; the aunt is in a serious condition and the son, aged 3½ years, is critical and on his way to Cork [ to hospital]."

The adults in the crash suffered multiple fractures but the injuries were not said to be life threatening.

Four ambulances including one from Ballinasloe were dispatched to the scene.

Poor driving conditions are expected to continue this morning as windy and wet weather prevails. A spell of heavy rain is likely, clearing later to cooler, showery weather through the afternoon.