Johnston’s bridge roundabout is sealed off in all directions as Forensic investigators try to establish what had occurred in the collision
A MAN remains in a critical condition after the car he was in crashed at Johnston’s Bridge in Enniskillen before spiralling onto the roundabout near the Enniskillen library over the weekend.
The car, which is understood to have failed to stop for police at Gaol Square, is thought to have been travelling at high speed when it hit the pedestrian barrier on the narrow Johnston’s bridge at close to 1.55am, while carrying six people.
Police have denied that they were in pursuit of the car at the time of the crash.
A police spokesman said that police followed the car with ‘blue lights and sirens’ along the Irvinestown Road, onto the Cornagrade Road, but ‘discontinued’ at that point.
The spokesman added: “The vehicle then subsequently travelled on and crashed at the Johnston Bridge roundabout. The police ombudsman’s office has been informed.”
The early morning incident, on Saturday August 23, closed roads leading to the area until around 2pm the following day, while an 18-year-old was arrested.
A 23-year-old man remains in hospital and is receiving treatment with his condition as of yesterday, Tuesday, described as ‘critical’.
Two other men aged 28 and 27 and two females aged 42 and 22 were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.
The 18 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of motoring offences.
A witness to the crash described the car as ‘coming flying’ down the Cornagrade Road to the roundabout.
The Enniskillen resident, who didn’t wish to be named, was coming from the Queen Street side of the roundabout and was aiming to go straight on towards Belmore Street when he saw the car hit the pedestrian railings on his left-hand side.
“I heard it hit the rails – I was about to go on as I had right of way.
“It was very shocking – the driver looked shocked too. The car was ruined, it had come flying through the new pedestrian rails before it landed at the roundabout.
“I’d be told that the car had refused to stop at a police checkpoint earlier. Police were there in seconds,” he added.
The crash took place shortly before 1.55am on Saturday morning. The car failed to stop for police at Gaol Square according to a police spokesman, with police initially pursuing the car along the Irvinestown Road and onto the Cornagrade Road. Police have said that they were not in pursuit as the car made its way onto Johnston’s Bridge and crashed.
On Saturday morning, while police closed the road leading to the roundabout at Enniskillen library, the blue Ford Focus involved in the crash appeared extensively damaged.
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