Yuku free message boards

From Irish Times on line...

The company that operates the Luas system today refused to comment on a claim by the head of CIÉ that the Dublin Bus involved in a collision with a Luas yesterday had a green light at the time. Three separate investigations have begun into yesterday afternoon's crash which left at least 21 people injured. The Luas driver and two bus passengers were seriously injured in the incident at the junction of O'Connell Street and Abbey Street in which the Luas crashed into the side of a No 16 bus travelling toward Santry. The Luas was derailed.

Separate investigations into the incident are being carried out by gardaí, Dublin Bus and Veolia.The Railway Safety Commission told The Irish Times the crash, as a road traffic incident, did not come under its remit. "We will obviously assist the gardaí in their investigation if required," a spokeswoman said. CIÉ chairman Dr John Lynch told reporters today he had viewed CCTV footage of the incident and it "clearly" showed the bus involved in the crash had a green light. "Obviously, there has to be an investigation," he said. "The indications that we have, on the CCTV it's fairly clear that the driver had a green light."

In a statement this afternoon, Veolia Transport said it would not be commenting. "Veolia Transport is conducting its own investigation and is fully cooperating with the Garda investigation which is still ongoing," it said. "Veolia Transport has been advised by the Gardaí not to comment on this investigation whilst it is ongoing."

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey today wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash. "It was pretty horrific looking and an incident that we don't want to see repeated."

One witness told The Irish Times yesterday it appeared the bus had been forced to stop in the junction by several pedestrians crossing in front of it just before the crash. Local businessman Alan Hunter, who was standing outside Clerys at the time of the crash said he did not see the impact. "What seemed to happen was that the bus had to brake in the middle of the junction because there were pedestrians running out in front of him. That happens all the time, particularly on O'Connell Street." Another man who didn't wish to be named said the bus had been stopped at a red light before the Luas junction, but moved forward into the junction to allow a Garda car to pass.

Gardaí said they could not confirm any of these reports because the matter was still under investigation. They appealed today for witnesses to contact them. A spokesman said it is believed a number of passengers on the bus and the tram may have left the scene before emergency services arrived and detectives would like to speak to them.

The Luas Red Line is operating a limited service between Tallaght and Smithfield stops only today. However Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Bus.
O'Connell St was closed northbound this morning with Dublin Bus services diverting via Gardiner Street. However, the road has now reopened to traffic.

A total of 21 people attended the Mater hospital and two of them were in a serious condition last night. Three people were brought to Beaumont Hospital where they were treated for shock, while a further patient was transferred to the hospital from the Mater with serious head injuries yesterday evening. A further two people were treated at St James's Hospital.

A number of people who had been left trapped on the bus had to be cut free from the wreckage by members of Dublin City Fire Brigade.

Since the Luas light rail tram system was introduced in 2004, there have been 13 minor road traffic incidents, 12 incidents which involved "minor contact" with pedestrians and two derailments, one of which occurred as a result of yesterday's collision. A pedestrian in his 50s died in February, 2008 when he was struck by a Luas tram in Tallaght.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0917/breaking4.htm