A motorist had a lucky escape today when her car ploughed under a crash barrier after she failed to negotiate a sharp turn on a motorway off-ramp.
The single-vehicle collision occurred at junction 16 of the M18 at Gort in Co Galway at around 4.00pm.
The driver was travelling north on the motorway and was turning off for Gort town on a contra-flow on/off ramp system when her car continued through the lane dividers, across the opposite lane and in under the crash barrier.
It appears that car then struck an embankment and bounced to the left continuing for about 20 metres narrowly missing a light pole.
Gardaí responded to the incident along with units of Galway Fire and Rescue Service from Gort and Loughrea stations and National Ambulance Service paramedics.
The front hood of the car was all but ripped off while one emergency worker said “it’s a miracle the roof of the car wasn’t torn off.”
“Barriers are designed to stop vehicles so it’s beyond me how a car managed to get in under it. It’s incredible to be honest and the driver is a very lucky person,” he added.
The driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, was treated at the scene by paramedics before being transported to University Hospital Galway for treatment. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Traffic was still able to safely exit the motorway at the junction following the incident however the opposite lane on-ramp was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident. The ramp was reopened shortly before 6.00pm when the vehicle had been removed and the scene declared safe.
Traffic Infrastructure Ireland (TII) motorway maintenance crews also attended the incident an assessed the damage to the barrier. Work on repairing or replacing the barrier is expected to be carried out in the coming days.
Gardaí at Gort are investigating the circumstances of the collision.
