Pedestrian injured crossing Metges Road

A YOUNG Navan man who was seriously injured when hit by a car crossing Metges Road in Johnstown to access a bus, had called on Meath County Council to install a pedestrian crossing there, just a month before his accident.

Rhys McCabe (20), was crossing the road from his home in Lillian Metges House to access to the bus stop across the road. Rhys had planned to take the bus to the National Learning Network for special needs adults, when he was hit by a car.

He was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda by ambulance were he was treated for a broken knee. He also suffered bruising to his head and ribs.

“It was terrifying, but he was lucky it wasn't worse,” said his mother Melanie. “His knee is in a cast for the next seven weeks and he will have to use a wheelchair until it is off.”

“I had just said good bye to him and then I heard a knock on the door, it was a neighbour telling me he had been knocked down.”

“The driver stopped and helped, reported the accident and contacted the emergency services.”

“It is a terribly dangerous to try and cross the road there and we really need a pedestrian crossing.

“I used to go out and help him across the road, but he said he was fine, he wanted his independence.

“He had raised the need for a pedestrian crossing there with his local councillor just a short time before the accident.”

Melanie said that a crossing was very badly needed.

“It is very dangerous and difficult to get across even for an able bodied adult, but a lot of children have to cross that road there to get the bus.

“I've seen a lot of elderly people crossing to that bus stop as well, including a woman with a walking aid.

“The road is extremely busy there, A crossing would he prevent more accidents,” she said.

The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy, said that during his seven years as a councillor he had engaged with lots of people from Johnstown who highlighted pedestrian safety concerns along Metges Road.

“Indeed, Rhys McCabe, who I know quite well approached me only a month ago and asked if the council would install a pedestrian crossing at the bus stops outside the apartment block where he lives, because he didn’t feel safe crossing the road to get a bus into town.

“I was horrified when I received a call last Thursday to say that he had been knocked down by a car at that location. Metges Road is quite dangerous at times. Cars speed along there regularly making it very dangerous for pedestrians to cross safely.

“Rhys was knocked down trying to access public transport. To have such infrastructure in a community is great. However, public transport users need to have safe access. Where bus stops are put in, safe crossing points need to be installed alongside them.

“The long awaited Systra report on traffic movement in Johnstown is due to be published soon. I really hope they have provided for sufficient pedestrian crossing points along the Metges Road,” he said.

A spokesperson for Meath County Council said Cllr Fennessy’s request will be considered alongside other submissions and departmental objectives when the Council formulates its footpath work programme.