Toddler, baby crash deaths spark call for safety measures

A DOCTOR called yesterday for urgent safety measures to be implemented at a junction where at least six people have died, including a three-year-old boy and his nine-month-old sister.

Connell Clarges, aged 3, and his sister, Katie, from Cherrywood, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, died when their family car collided with a lorry at Ashfield Cross just outside Rosslare Europort in August of last year.

Up to 8,000 vehicles use the road every day.

Local doctor and Independent TD, Dr Liam Twomey, has joined a safety campaign for the area, saying that the carnage at the junction must end.

Katie Clarges died instantly in the collision. Her brother, Connell, also a back seat passenger in the car driven by their father, Paul, died two days later in Beaumont hospital after being hit by a truck being driven in the direction of Rosslare.

While Dublin City Coroners Court recorded a verdict of accidental death in both cases, the jury requested coroner Dr Brian Farrell write to Wexford County Council asking that the accident site be examined in relation to signage and the configuration of the junction.

At least four other people have died at the same junction and a spate of minor accidents have occurred there since the Clarges’ children lost their lives.

Dr Twomey was among those called to the crash scene. All that is needed is a roundabout at the busy T-junction to slow traffic down, he said.

“Having to deal with a dead child and one with serious injuries at that junction is very distressing.

“The death of the Clarges children brought home to everyone just how dangerous and confusing the 25-year-old junction is,” said Dr Twomey.

“The junction is earmarked as being on part of a new access road to the port and a roundabout is due to be put there, but that has been signalled for years down the line.

“Why the money from the County Council or NRA can’t be forthcoming for the roundabout to be put in place now is incomprehensible.”

A spokesperson for Wexford Co Council said that until they received a report and letter from the Coroner’s court they could not comment on the matter.

He said the junction would be examined in conjunction with the NRA.