Road traffic accident in town

civis_liberalis

Collision on the Quincentennial bridge. Three cars, including a Garda vehicle. Emergency services and a large amount of Gardaí on the scene. Seems to be no fatalities, thank god.

cornbb

Yikes, I drove over that only an hour ago. Hope everyone's ok.

tonyhiggins

Looked to me like a car hit the traffic light to me when I passed there? And looked light enough, I hope..

Fey!

Seems to have been a day for it; I saw a car buried in the wall on Seamus Quirke Road opposite Shantalla Road (at the football pitch) at 5 o'clock yesterday morning, with a Garda car in attendance.

Hope everyone involved in these two accidents are OK.

Dotfuscator

it looked like the front of the garda van hit the left side of the other car, both looked fairly damaged. would like to know how it happened though

tinofapples

I saw a Garda van being taken away by City Recovery along with one of these vehicles :
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Previa/2.4-VVT-/200840190265414/advert

The same accident ??

Das Kitty

I saw the traffic light today, it's got a leaning tower vibe to it, still working though. Didn't hear of about this on the news.

Wompa1

GARDA OMBUDSMAN NOT INVESTIGATING CITY CRASH INVOLVING GARDA VAN
Mon 9th March 2009
The Garda Ombudsman will not be investigating a crash involving a Garda vehicle over the weekend.

The collision, between a Garda van and a taxi, happened at the junction of the Newcastle Road and Quincentennial Bridge at 12.50 am on Saturday.

3 Gardaí and four passengers in the taxi were hospital following the collision but were later discharged.

A spokesperson for the Gardaí has confirmed to Galway Bay fm News that the Garda Ombudsman will not be investigating the incident.

paulhannon

so did it look like the garda van caused the accident?

fend

yea i knew the 3 passengers in the back of the taxi... one received broken nose and the other two were treated for shock and scratches/minor cuts. apparently taxi was in the wrong as guards had blue lights on and taxi "failed" to notice the urgency.

Wompa1

Was there actual urgency I wonder or did they figure they'd just break the light because it was quiet? But thats me just being a negative Nancy again!

dcukhunter

Wompa1 wrote: »

Was there actual urgency I wonder or did they figure they'd just break the light because it was quiet? But thats me just being a negative Nancy again!

Ya I have seen the cars do that a few times put on the lights to go through the trafic lights as soon as they do they turn them off again. However I think they might have been going out to a certain hotel I was drinking in out that direction. There was a bit off trouble at a wedding and 2 gada cars were there about then.

Fey!

dcukhunter wrote: »

Ya I have seen the cars do that a few times put on the lights to go through the trafic lights as soon as they do they turn them off again.

That could be so as to panic other drivers as little as possible; some people get a bit frantic when they see blue lights behind them!!!

dcukhunter wrote: »

However I think they might have been going out to a certain hotel I was drinking in out that direction. There was a bit off trouble at a wedding and 2 gada cars were there about then.

That wouldn't have been out around Bushypark/Dangan by any chance?

biko

Wompa1 wrote: »

Was there actual urgency I wonder or did they figure they'd just break the light because it was quiet? But thats me just being a negative Nancy again!

As I understand it a lot of the time during emergencies they don't bother with lights/sirens unless there is need for it - other cars nearby/approaching intersection.
There can also be times when the don't want to let on that they're coming, maybe to catch someone in the act or similar. Sneaky baxtards

Das Kitty

Similarly there is an ambulance driver who lives in the Ballybrit area who parks his ambulance outside of his house a lot of the time. I often see him with the sirens blaring around 6pm cutting through traffic heading in that direction. It's always him though, and there's hardly an emergency over that side of town most days at the same time is there?

synacron trion

biko wrote: »

As I understand it a lot of the time during emergencies they don't bother with lights/sirens unless there is need for it - other cars nearby/approaching intersection.
There can also be times when the don't want to let on that they're coming, maybe to catch someone in the act or similar. Sneaky baxtards

It is my understanding that entities such as the Gardai and Ambulance service have levels which indicate what configurations of lights and sirens they can use. Like emergency levels.
For instance, in a bank robbery scenario the gardai would have lights and sirens on but for a traffic accident that had no reported serious injuries they will drive normally with no lights or sirens. Same with ambulance service, the only use lights and sirens in a life threatening situation. Also, I think the use of sirens through residential areas is a no go according to the rules unless it is absolutely necessary.

I am open for correction on this by someone (ie Garda or Ambulance driver/paramedic).

snubbleste

I saw an ambulance going really fast across the new bridge in 2006, no sirens or lights, approached red traffic lights then put on sirens & lights and went through and on into the petrol station. I caught up as it was pulling out, drove fast away and then noticed it pulled up in front of supermacs in newcastle.
I was cycling so happenend to be going the same direction slowly, that's how i know. Of course there could've been a medical emergency in supermacs though..

Das Kitty, you should consider making a complaint about that driver to the Head of Amublance Service Hse West, St. Marys hospital , Castlebar.

Das Kitty

snubbleste wrote: »

Das Kitty, you should consider making a complaint about that driver to the Head of Amublance Service Hse West, St. Marys hospital , Castlebar.

I has no proof.

Anyway it doesn't bother me too much as I am going the opposite direction. :P

biko

synacron trion wrote: »

It is my understanding that entities such as the Gardai and Ambulance service have levels which indicate what configurations of lights and sirens they can use. Like emergency levels.
For instance, in a bank robbery scenario the gardai would have lights and sirens on but for a traffic accident that had no reported serious injuries they will drive normally with no lights or sirens. Same with ambulance service, the only use lights and sirens in a life threatening situation. Also, I think the use of sirens through residential areas is a no go according to the rules unless it is absolutely necessary.

I am open for correction on this by someone (ie Garda or Ambulance driver/paramedic).

I'm not entirely sure but read this in Emergency Services forum a few days ago:

Whitewater-AGS wrote: »

Just cause the lights and sirens aint on dont mean we aint responding to a call!

I use to work as building security ages ago and then it was common for them to respond without sirens/lights to try to sneak up on suspected burglars. Mind that wasn't here.

dcukhunter

Fey! wrote: »

That could be so as to panic other drivers as little as possible; some people get a bit frantic when they see blue lights behind them!!!

Its usually late at night I see them no one else on road just me and going the opposite direction.

Fey! wrote: »

That wouldn't have been out around Bushypark/Dangan by any chance?

Thats the one

crystal castle

Leaving Galway, an ambulance went blaring out past lanes of traffic at the oran beg roundabout, further out I had a clear view of the ambulance tipping along near derrydonnell, not a bother on it. My mother works in a hospital and reckons drivers abuse the sirens. One of the perks of the job I guess, like the ability of a bouncer to give you a dig if you're getting thrown out of a nightclub.

WELL97

i heard that the paddy wagon had no lights on and broke thru a red light!typical

Tango Alpha 51

crystal castle wrote: »

Leaving Galway, an ambulance went blaring out past lanes of traffic at the oran beg roundabout, further out I had a clear view of the ambulance tipping along near derrydonnell, not a bother on it. My mother works in a hospital and reckons drivers abuse the sirens. One of the perks of the job I guess, like the ability of a bouncer to give you a dig if you're getting thrown out of a nightclub.

For those that didn't know & I'm only talking about HSE National Ambulance Service EMT-P & EMT-AP's here, we drive on our own licence so the majority of us wouldn't abuse the privileges in regard to blue light & siren usage. In relation to the ambulance you saw "blaring" out past lanes of traffic, maybe it had been dispatched by ambulance control but then got stood down. It does frustrate us when this happens especially when joe public has made every effort to get out of our way.

The situation in Galway is different then the rest of the country as you have private ambulances responding on behalf of the HSE. Obviously we have no control over what they do.

All people see is an ambulance they don't distingush between us & the privates

JohnCleary

buzzman wrote: »

All people see is an ambulance they don't distingush between us & the privates

Doesn't matter with me - if I see an ambulance with lights on and sirens blowing, I get the fcuk out of the way fairly lively (once its safe to do so). Same for any emergency service really (although i'm sick to death of seeing cops turn on the sirens to break a red light, and turn them off 100m down the road)