Train collides with vehicle in Galway

[colmoc]

THEY are calling him the Miracle Man.
Van driver Martin Fitzpatrick survived a train crash by just inches.
He walked away virtually unscathed after his van was hit by a train travelling at almost 70mph at an unmanned level crossing at Garraun, near Oranmore, six miles from Galway city.
The impact on Wednesday night destroyed the vehicle, but Mr Fitzpatrick (42), was able to climb out of the wreckage and later hop into an ambulance. His condition was described as stable at University College Hospital, Galway.
The 7.10am train from Dublin was just minutes from its destination when the collision occurred.
Crossing
Mr Fitzpatrick, a domestic appliance service engineer from Renville, Oranmore, was driving his Ford Transit from the coast road outside Oranmore in the direction of Doughiska.
The level crossing is controlled by traffic lights on either side, but it is thought that the colour of the lights may have been obliterated by the sharp winter sun.
As Mr Fitzpatrick travelled through the crossing, the train struck the rear and mid-section of the van, catapulting it off the track and onto rough ground. Much of the van's bodywork was ripped off. The van contents, including tools and files, were scattered into nearby fields.
Gardai, ambulance and Galway Fire Brigade crews were on the scene within minutes. All were amazed to discover that the van driver was not only alive, but had suffered just minor injuries and shock.
"A foot either way and it would have been a different story," said Galway Fire Station officer Billy Conroy, as he surveyed the damage.
"He is a very lucky man. It is a miracle that he is OK after that kind of impact. It seems that he has only suffered minor injuries," he added.
The train driver, who was also suffering from shock, managed to bring the locomotive to a halt some distance down the track. There were about 120 passengers on board at the time.
The train finally made its way into Ceannt Station in Galway city about two hours late. Only a handful of people on board had noticed the collision when it happened.
Sarah Rawe from Dublin said the passengers had been kept up to date throughout the long delay, and expressed her relief that nobody had been killed.
"We had nothing to suggest that that there had been a crash or anything like that. Nobody noticed anything. The train just seemed to slow down before it came to a halt. It was only then that we heard that there had been a collision with a van.
"We were all kept informed of developments while we waited to continue on the journey, but everyone was delighted to hear that the driver survived," Ms Rawe said.
Iarnrod Eireann staff issued refund vouchers to all passengers as they embarked at Ceannt Station.
District manager Gerry Glynn confirmed an investigation had been launched immediately, and was grateful that nobody had been seriously injured. Approaching
"We understand that as the train was approaching the crossing, a van drove across. The train driver was powerless to do anything at that stage to avoid a collision.
"Our investigations so far indicate that there was no fault with the crossing equipment.
A full investigation is taking place.
"Thankfully, the driver of the van is ok and was not seriously injured.
"The train driver was not injured either, but he was shocked and has been relieved of duty.
"But everybody is just so relieved that nobody was seriously hurt."

From unison.ie

[comcor]

Not many automated level crossings down in this part of the world, but correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't there be an automatic barrier as well as lights.

It's one thing to find lights hard to see because of the sun, but how do you manage to drive around a bloody great pole.

[Mark Gleeson]

Level crossing was within the safety requirements

As we well know barriers don't stop people either