18/03/2008

Military Convoy In Dublin Motorway Mash

A military convoy has crashed on a Dublin motorway injuring over 20 soldiers and completely blocking the road.

The series of collisions involved nine military vehicles travelling in a close-order convoy along the M50 motorway at 11.00am on Tuesday morning at the Ballymun exit of the road.

Most of the 22 soldiers injured in the collision received only minor injuries, but at least one soldier has suffered a broken leg and several others are reported to have spinal and neck injuries.

Eight ambulances were called to the scene and the injured were taken to five separate hospitals in Dublin.

Gardaí and the Defence Forces will each be conducting investigations into the incident.

It is understood that safety concerns had previously been expressed by soldiers about the lack of roll bars or other protection on the army trucks involved in the collision.

AA roadwatch is advising motorists heading towards the airport to take the old airport road and says the M50 northbound is effectively closed all the way to the M1 interchange from the Finglas exit.

The National Roads Authority says the M50 Northbound will be reopened to traffic some time this afternoon.

(DW)


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