Vehicle forces mum into hedge

The 27-year-old said she was petrified when she saw the grey metallic BMW drive onto the pavement as she was pushing her pram along the North Circular Road.

The mum of two was walking towards Tannaghmore School on Monday afternoon to pick up her other son at 1.45pm when a lorry driver moved alongside a digger blocking both lanes on the North Circular Road.

She explained that as she was walking on the footpath, other motorists waited as they could clearly she was pushing a pram. However, the driver of the BMW, a woman in her 30s with long blonde hair, mounted the pavement and drove straight towards the young mum.

“When she mounted the pavement I was forced into the hedge of someone’s garden. A load of people who had been waiting in their cars got out and helped me and the baby. She (the BMW driver) totally ignored the road closed sign and came flying onto the footpath,” said the 27-year-old who didn’t want to be named.

“Everyone in the cars behind got out to see if I was OK. She was going very fast, probably trying to avoid other cars trying to get past. She just looked at me and drove on,” she said. The young mum also hit out at the workmen who had blocked the road completely causing traffic chaos during one of the busiest times of the day. “It was just so dangerous. Traffic is wild at the minute. Someone could have been killed.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Noel McGeown said: “Thankfully due to the quick thinking of a young mother, tragedy was avoided on this occasion, but we would encourage all pedestrians and motorists to take due care during these road works and remind impatient drivers that lives can be at stake.”

Sergant Duncan McBain, Lurgan Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There are roadworks ongoing in this area and a number of other roads in Lurgan but that does not mean that motorists can ignore road signs and the rules that always apply on the roads. The pedestrian was clearly shaken.” Anyone with information is asked to call the new non-emergency 101 number.