Lorry broke red light and crashed into car

A 74-year-old lorry driver coming from the Bundoran direction went through a red light and subsequently crashed into a car turning right at Cartron Cross, Sligo District Court heard.

Ronald Stronge, of 79 Strabane Road, Castlederg, Co Tyrone had a dangerous driving charge reduced to that of careless driving by Judge Kevin Kilrane.

The accident happened on December 26 th 2017 on the Inner Relief Road, Sligo. Inspector Barry Doyle said the serious road traffic accident happened at 7:45am involving two vehicles, a lorry and a BMW car. The car was being driven by a Mr Gillespie who had a green light to turn right when the lorry came into collision with him. He received very serious injuries and was taken to Sligo University Hospital. His injuries included 12 broken ribs, broken jaw, sternum and a punctured lung. He said that the lorry driver, Ronald Stronge had said in his statement that he believed he had the green light. A man travelling behind the haulage tanker also gave a statement and said that going down the hill he saw the lights were red and was concerned, not by that the lorry was breaking the speed limit but that it was not prepared to stop at the red lights. Mr Simon Gillespie (BL) defending said his client wished to plead guilty and that the situation where he ran a red light was more akin to careless driving. He said Mr Stronge was driving for many years.

The judge said it’s a complicated junction with several areas of confusion, adding that as one drives from Sligo there is a filter arrow to turn right and then there is also a set of traffic lights at the Rosses Point junction. He said that it has happened before whereby someone takes the first set of traffic lights but don’t see the second traffic lights. He said he could understand how there could be a lapse. Mr Gillespie said Mr Stronge, a 74-year-old grandfather was very remorseful and would like to express his remorse to the injured party. His client said it was a stupid and momentary mistake. He runs his own haulage company with his son, he said.

Judge Kilrane said driving a lorry involves huge responsibility and unfortunately the accident happened at the place it did and there was a car in front of him turning right. He fined him €200 and didn’t disqualify him.