Child is among four people injured in two separate traffic collisions over weekend
A CHILD was one of two pedestrians rushed to hospital yesterday after being injured in a two-vehicle collision in Dunmurry.
The youngster was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, and a man to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital, after the incident at Kingsway around 3pm.
Two ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
The Belfast Health Trust declined to provide any information on the condition of the two casualties.
Meanwhile, the Gracehill Road near Armoy remained closed last night after a two-car collision at its junction with the Fivey Road.
Police, Fire Service and Ambulance Service were quickly on the scene.
Two people received medical help and were taken to the Causeway Hospital with minor injuries.
The country road has seen a string of accidents over recent months, including a fatality in which American honeymooner Michael Monroe (31) died.
The Gracehill Road is close to the Dark Hedges, made famous in the Game Of Thrones fantasy TV series, and has seen a huge increase in traffic in the area over recent years as tourists flock to see the atmospheric treelined road.
Glens councillor Cara McShane described where the crash happened as “a dangerous stretch of road”.
She said better signage and driver sight-lines were needed.
She added: “With the volume of visitors we now have, and which is set in increase after the next series of Game Of Thrones, these problems are only going to get worse unless something is done soon.
“Local people are already angry over perceived Government inaction on the Dark Hedges traffic issue.”
The Sinn Fein councillor urged road users to take care in the area, given that many drivers are not local, are unfamiliar with the area and may not be used to driving on the left.
She said her party had just last week raised the issue of traffic management and safety on roads near the Dark Hedges with officials at the Department for Infrastructure.
But things were moving very slowly, the councillor added.
“It’s worrying. Increased safety measures are needed urgently.”