Petition calls for safety measures on ‘blackspot’ St Johnston road after fatal crash

A petition has been launched to call for improved road safety measures on the St Johnston road where two young men lost their lives this week.

Daniel Cullen and Caoimhin Porter from Derry were killed after the Vauxhall Corsa car in which they were travelling collided with a Volvo lorry at around 11.15pm on Tuesday.

The 18-year-olds lost their lives in the fatal crash, which occurred on a stretch of the R236 in St Johnston, close to the Presbyterian Church and the manse house, that has become notorious as an accident blackspot.

“I don’t know what it is about the bend, but it is definitely a black spot,” local Presbyterian Minister Rev Craig Wilson, who lives in The Manse, said. 

“My wife and I have often wondered why they don’t straighten the road and bring in some traffic calming measures.

“Our wall gets knocked down regularly. We have often thought that something should be done before there is a tragedy…now, we have families devastated and the loss of teenage lives is terrible.

“Hopefully some action will be taken.”

Daniel Cullen and Caoimhin Porter, who lost their lives in the fatal crash in St Johnston

A petition has also been set up asking that ramps and signage be installed.

The petition, already signed by a couple of hundred people, was set up by Donna-Marie Reynolds, who says that the road has been a location of concern due to numerous accidents.

The road, she says, “poses serious safety risks that need immediate attention for the sake of all who use it”.

The petition says: “The lack of proper signage and speed regulation measures such as ramps on this road has made it perilous for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.

“Local residents and visitors have voiced their worries over the dangerous conditions, yet little has changed to remedy this ongoing problem.”

Read next: 'Total shock': Derry teenagers killed in St Johnston crash named locally

The petition organiser says that implementing some safety measures would “undoubtedly save lives and prevent further heartache for families and the community...We urge the Donegal County Council and relevant authorities to prioritize the safety of all road users by taking immediate action. 

“The cost of prevention is far less than the cost of a life, making these changes not just practical but essential.”