Early probe claims bus driver had green light in Luas crash
The remains yesterday of the collision on O'Connell St, Dublin
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Friday September 18 2009
INITIAL probes into the crash between a Luas tram and a Dublin bus on Wednesday afternoon confirm that the bus driver had a green light.
Investigators are now closely examining the actions of the Luas driver in the seconds before the crash. A signalling error is not believed to have occurred at the junction on Dublin's O'Connell Street.
The Luas driver -- who was cut from the wreckage -- was expected to be discharged from hospital last night or this morning.
The Irish Independent understands that he is a Nigerian man, Ori-Yomi Emmanuel, who has been living and working in Ireland for about eight years. It is understood he is a father of one in his 30s.
Three other people remain in hospital, with one said to be seriously ill in St James's and the other two in a stable condition in Beaumont.
At least 21 people were injured in the crash, some with fractures, cuts and bruises, others with shock.
Several investigations were immediately launched -- with the main one headed up by the gardai -- but Dublin Bus chairman John Lynch said yesterday that initial CCTV footage viewed by Dublin Bus investigators showed the bus driver had a green light.
Unusual
"Obviously there has to be an investigation . . . they'll have to go to the Luas people and to ourselves, but the indications that we have from CCTV is that the (bus driver) had a green light," Dr Lynch said.
"It's a fairly wide road on both sides, so it had to be something fairly unusual," he added.
"All I can say is, having looked at it yesterday, and having the CCTV, it's fairly clear that there was a green light.
"Now, what can a driver do if he has a green light except go through?"
The claim that the bus driver had a green light was confirmed last night by other investigators.
A spokeswoman for Veolia Transplant, which operates the trams, declined to comment.
"We are not commenting on any remarks made today," she said. "It is the advice from the gardai not to comment on an investigation. We would like the investigation to take its course before we make any comment."
Veolia Transport said it would "at least be a month" before its investigations would be completed, but other investigators believe it will take significantly longer for the various strands to be put together.
Gardai said yesterday they could not confirm any reports about alleged actions by pedestrians, cyclists or car drivers at the junction of O'Connell Street and Abbey Street immediately before the crash because the matter was still under investigation.
However, it is understood that a suggestion that two garda cars crossed the junction moments before the crash has been discounted.
They appealed for witnesses to contact them. A spokesman said it is believed several passengers on the bus and the tram may have left the scene before emergency services arrived and detectives would like to speak to them.
Transport Minister Noel Dempsey 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," he said.
Mr Dempsey added that it would not be appropriate to jump to any conclusions when Dr Lynch's comments were put to him.
He said he would await a report from the Rail Accident Investigation Unit of his department.
The Railway Safety Commission said the crash, as a road traffic incident, did not come under its remit.
Mr Dempsey also pointed out the good safety record since the Luas was introduced in 2004.
- Jason O'Brien
