Family of bridge plunge driver call for safety review
By Sarah Brett
22 November 2006
The family of the lorry driver whose vehicle was blown off the Foyle Bridge have called for a complete review of the policy to close the bridge in high winds.
The inquest into the death of 37-year-old Peter McGuinness heard yesterday that he would not have been allowed to cross any other similar bridge in the UK in a lorry in the weather of January 11 last year.
It emerged that while the Department of Regional Development’s (DRD) policy is to close the bridge when winds reach 50mph based on an average wind speed, gusts prior to the accident reached 78mph.
Gust speeds are still not measured on the Foyle Bridge today, the Roads Service confirmed.
The department was exonerated following an investigation using a consultancy firm whose engineering arm was already working on the bridge to strengthen it.
Hyder Consulting found that the procedures put in place by DRD Roads Service were “reasonable” given that the bridge did not have a history of accidents.
Constable Neil Fenn from Strand Road police station told the court that following procedure he liaised with the Roads Service and was told they were monitoring the situation.
“I was told the high winds would miss the bridge,” he said.
The Met office had predicted winds of up to 65mph that afternoon.
Three men who witnessed the accident gave evidence yesterday that they were on their way home together after being forced to stop work because of the wind.
They described seeing the lorry being severely buffeted and forced into the nearside lane with its wheels lifting off the road.
“The driver seemed to be fighting to correct it and it was snaking - then the cab went over the side taking the trailer with it”, said James McCusker.
He raced to the scene below where Mr McGuinness’ lorry had crashed onto mudflats.
“I saw him hanging upside-down in the cab. His face was grey. I noticed a small trickle of blood coming from his mouth. He seemed to be dead.”
Mr McGuinness’ employer Paul Hannon later told the court that the deceased had some 16 years experience.
The McGuinness’ solicitor told journalists yesterday that the family particularly wanted to thank the people of Derry for their help that day.
He said they were both “disappointed and angry” with the bridge closure policy.
"The family have been suffering for almost two years waiting for this inquest to be held.
"It defies belief that somebody didn’t understand that the policy to close the bridge when winds reached 50mph should be based on gusts and not a mean average of overall wind speed.
"The family believe that there should be a review of the policy on the basis that if Peter had been trying to get onto any other similar bridge in the UK he wouldn’t have been allowed and he would still be here today.
“The McGuinnesses are well known in the Lurgan area. Anyone that knew Peter knew he was a gentleman.”
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