Cllr McGinley makes plea for Eastway pedestrian crossing after boy is run over

Sinn Féin Councillor, Emma McGinley, has called on the Department for Infrastructure to review road safety measures on Eastway Road in Creggan after a child was knocked down last week.

The child, who is recovering from the injuries suffered, was run over at the crossing from Bligh's Lane to Eastway.

Cllr McGinley, who represents The Moor ward, said that she had met with the boy and his father with both being in shock at what happened.

And she called upon the DfI to install a pedestrian crossing on this part of the Eastway Road to ensure that incidents such as this do not happen again.

She said: “A child was knocked down at the crossing from Bligh’s Lane over to Eastway. I've been in touch with the child's father, they are in shock, but thankfully the boy is recovering from his injuries.

“This raises serious concerns about the lack of safe pedestrian crossings along this stretch of road, particularly with it being so close to two local schools.

“I have written to the Department for Infrastructure requesting that a pedestrian crossing is installed on this part of the road and that the broken island in the middle of the road is fixed to ensure people can cross safely.

“All efforts must be made to help ensure accidents like this one are not repeated.”

The Derry News contacted the DfI regarding the incident and received a response saying that Minister Nichola Mallon has instructed the Department to carry out an assessment “as quickly as possible” for a pedestrian crossing to be installed on this section of the Eastway Road.

A DfI spokesperson said: “The Department is saddened to hear of this incident and sends our best wishes to the injured boy and his family.

“The Minister Nichola Mallon has asked the Department to carry out an assessment for a controlled crossing at this location as quickly as possible in the coming weeks in accordance with the Department’s Road Safety Engineering policy.”