Car occupants ‘stable’ following train crash near Claremorris

TWO men airlifted to hospital following a collision between a train and their vehicle are understood to be in ‘stable condition’ in Galway University Hospital.

The collision between vehicle and the Westport to Dublin train occurred at approximately 3.30pm on Saturday last, September 9, at an unattended level crossing on L65516 rural road at Garryredmond, Claremorris.

The two occupants of the vehicle, understood to be aged 19 and 16 and from Co Galway, were injured and airlifted to Galway University Hospital. They are understood to be in a ‘stable condition’ in hospital.

The L65516 is a short, narrow rural road linking the N60 road with the L5551. It is predominately used as an access road for farmland.

Local councillor Richard Finn told The Mayo News that the road is rarely used by anyone other than local people and that he did not know of any previous incidents at the location.

“It is a back road, and it is unfortunate what happened to them. It is a normal unattended level crossing you find out in the country. The road is a narrow local road linking the N60 with Garryredmond… it would not be used often by anybody apart from people living there. There were no issues with that crossing before. The main thing here is there was nobody killed,” he said.

The train was carrying 190 passengers at the time of the collision, none of which were reported injured. Passengers were later transferred from the train to buses to allow them to continue on their journey while emergency services attended at the scene.

The initial response was provided by An Garda Síochána, Mayo County Council Fire Service from Claremorris, paramedics and ambulance personnel from the National Ambulance Service supported by the Irish Coast Guard, Rescue 118 from Sligo and Irish Air Corp helicopter based at Baldonnel.

An Garda Síochána are investigating all of the circumstances of this road traffic incident and Irish Rail are also carrying out an investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Claremorris Garda station on 094 9372080, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.