Gritting truck knocks wall outside house while treating Limerick roads for black ice

THE DRIVER of a council gritting truck working in the early hours of the morning to ensure roads were safe for motorists actually fell foul of black ice himself, Limerick Live has learned.

The lorry collided with a wall outside a house in Doon due to the slippery conditions. Limerick City and County Council had issued a black ice warning for the county and especially east and south Limerick during a cold snap.

A council spokesperson said staff were treating National and Regional roads and it was during this time that the road traffic incident occurred in Doon.

The spokesperson said on the morning of January 10, a Limerick City and County Council gritting truck was involved in a single vehicle accident at approximately 5am in Doon. 

“All matters relating to Health and Safety in respect to our driver were addressed.

“A boundary wall of a dwelling was damaged and the gritting truck was removed by a recovery vehicle that morning.  The remainder of the salting treatment was completed by other vehicles operating in the area,” said the spokesperson.

READ NEXT: ALERT: Warning as Potholes are ‘popping up like mushrooms’ on roads across Limerick

There were multiple reports of black ice in County Limerick that morning with untreated roads - like the one the gritting truck was travelling on - being described as “treacherous”.

The council spokesperson said the Winter Maintenance Plan is published and submitted to the TII annually.

"Its purpose is to ensure safe passable conditions to occur on key routes in Limerick and to minimise delays and accidents due to adverse winter weather. The winter maintenance covers 700km approx.

"The coverage includes the four national routes N20, N21, N24 and N69 as well as the Regional routes in County Limerick and main local routes in Limerick city," said the spokesperson.