Stolen car smashes into a garden wall

At approximately 2.15am on Friday, September 3, a black Kia Picanto car collided with a garden wall at the junction of Lake Street and Levin Road.

The car is believed to have been stolen from the Inglewood area some time earlier.

Sinn Fin’s Councillor Noel McGeown said: “This is the second incident of this nature to happen within the north Lurgan area in recent times.”

Mr McGeown pointed out that this incident could very well have had a tragic result.

He contacted the Roads Service to request a reassessment of the barrier provision in the area as he believes it is a serious health and safety concern.

He said: “The car hit the wall at a speed sufficient to drive a large section of masonry to within a few feet of the house and it is only through good luck that we were spared the horror of a fatal outcome for the home owners or the car driver.

“The erection of bollards for a distance along the edge of the pathway would offer protection for the owner of the property and for pedestrians using the footpath. However the best protection is by ending incidents of dangerous and reckless driving.”

The Loughside Councillor stressed that joyriding was not the major issue in this area, but he emphasised the dangers of the activity.

He said: “We do not want to be faced with the loss of innocent life that joyriding has produced in other areas. Anyone with information should come forward and do their part in preventing the tragedy in the future that we have so far been lucky to escape.”

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or has information in relation to it to contact them on 0845 600 8000. Information about crime can also be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.