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Chaos as runaway bus careers
through town
20.10.12
by Linda McGrory
THERE was chaos yesterday when a runaway bus
careered through Moville town centre ploughing into
a number of cars.
Witnesses watched in horror as the North West
Busways bus rolled down the main street about 8.30am. It caused thousands of euro in
damage to six cars including a new €32,000 car specially-adapted for a local wheelchair user.
Fortunately, most of the cars were parked and empty
at the time, but one female creche worker suffered
minor injuries as the bus smashed into the driver
side of her vehicle. |
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The chaos after a runaway bus careered
through Moville. |
There were no
passengers on the bus. They had been asked to
disembark after the driver reported problems with
the handbrake. It is understood the driver
subsequently went into a nearby shop shortly before
the empty bus began drifting down the street.
The vehicle travelled downhill for a distance of
about 500 yards hitting several cars before finally
becoming embedded in the front of a white Alfa Romeo
hatchback. It, in turn, was pushed into the car
parked behind.
Local hairdresser, Bernard Doherty, was shocked to
discover that his wife Nora's car, which was parked
in a disabled space, was among those badly damaged
in the crash. It ended up on the pavement, blocking
the front doorway of a house.
"The car is a 2012 Ford Titanium which is operated
by hand controls. It will be harder to replace. Nora
was left disabled in a car accident many years ago,
so this has been very distressing for her. We're
glad nobody was killed," said Mr Doherty. |
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Witnesses watched in horror as the
North West Busways bus rolled down the middle of
Moville town centre. |
Staff at nearby
Gillen's supermarket were among those who witnessed
the commotion.
They assisted the young woman driver who was said to
be traumatised by the incident.
Supermarket owner, Paul Gillen, said it was a
"miracle" there were no fatalities in the freak
accident.
"It's a miracle nobody was killed. It happened about
8.30am. We could hear all the loud bangs as the bus
crashed into each of the different cars.
“We looked out and saw the bus moving down the
street. It wasn't going very fast but it was hitting
cars as it went," said Mr Gillen.
Bus company owner, Joe McGonagle, said he is trying
to find out what happened.
"My understanding is that the driver applied the
handbrake to let the passengers on. When he went to
leave, the handbrake would not release so he asked
the passengers to get off. What exactly
happened after that, we have to find out," said Mr McGonagle.
"The main thing is that there were no fatalities,"
he said.
One Garda dealt with the chaotic scene alone for
over an hour as commuters drove past the pile up on
their way to work and local schools.
A number of locals complained that there were not
enough Gardaí on the scene in the initial stages to
divert traffic. Several more Gardaí subsequently
responded and the road was cleared as a large
funeral got underway. |
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