Motorists’ lucky escapes as black ice affects roads

A bus driver and a motorist with two children on board their vehicle fell victim to treacherous local road conditions in separate incidents last Thursday morning caused by black ice.

No-one was injured in either incident which happened almost simultaneously but in different parts of the borough.

The first involved an Ulsterbus which slipped on ice at around 8.30am on the Magheralane Road between Kellswater Bridge and Randalstown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Confirming the incident, a Translink spokesperson said that no passengers were injured, adding: “The health and safety of our passengers and staff is of paramount importance at all times.”

Just minutes later at 8.37am, according to the PSNI, a car with a driver and two children on board left the Bog Road near Crebilly Business Park, falling some 20 feet, and ended on its side in a burn.

Police, Fire Service and ambulance personnel attended.

A police spokesman said: “The Fire Service helped the people out of the car.

“None of them was hurt but they were checked out by paramedics at the scene”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Local Councillor for the area, North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew said: “I am just glad that no one was hurt. These could have been very serious incidents”.

Mr Frew said Roads Service had surveyed the Bog Road last year and agreed to look at new signage and road markings.

He added, however, that the survey found it did not meet the criteria for other improvements, such as new speed restrictions, sought by residents and supported by his party, due to insufficient traffic volume.

“Maybe it is time Roads Service took a look at this road again,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“With Tesco now in place at Crebilly Road, people from The Braid side may be using the Bog Road in greater numbers and the figures could be up.

“And, if that is the case, then they should be considering gritting it, particularly during the type of severe frosty and icy weather we have experienced over the past three weeks,” said Mr Frew who appealed to road users to be extra careful along the route.

“The Bog Road can be very dangerous and people using it should drive with the utmost care and attention at all times but especially so in bad weather conditions,” he added.

Related topics: