The remnants of the Garda after it was allegedly hit by a car driven by a man from Derry. PIC BY NORTHWEST NEWSPIX
A man from Derry has been arrested after two Gardai miraculously
survived after their car was rammed by an out-of-control car in Co
Donegal.
The Gardai were attempting to deploy a stinger device when their patrol car was hit.
One of the Gardai, who was still in the car, had to be cut out of the vehicle after it was struck by the Fiat Punto car.
The car, a North of Ireland registered vehicle, had been pursued by another
Garda patrol car for a number of miles before it struck the Garda patrol car at McGrory’s Brae between Ballybofey and Donegal Town.
A Garda spokesman revealed how the injured Garda, named local as Garda Evan Joyce who is stationed at Lifford Garda station, is lucky to be alive.
The spokesman said the incident was almost a carbon-copy of another incident in which Garda Gary McLoughlin lost his life when his patrol car was struck by a stolen car in December 2009.
Garda McLoughlin, 24, from Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, was injured and later died after the crash at Lisfannon on the Letterkenny to Bridgend Road after gardaí were alerted to a car driving off from a filling station at high speed.
His colleague, Garda Bernard McLoughlin, from Gurteen, Co Sligo, was also injured in the incident.
A Garda spokesman said of yesterday’s incident: “It really is a miracle that the Garda was not killed. He was so lucky.
“The lads were deploying the stinger when al of a sudden their vehicle was struck.
“One of the lads was still in the car and he is so lucky that he escaped with his life.
“It was a carbon copy of what happened to the late Garda Gary McLaughlin,” he said.
The garda inside had to be cut from the vehicle by the fire service and was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital.
Miraculously his injuries were minor.
The driver of the Punto, who is from the Shantallow area of Derry, is still in
hospital in Letterkenny and is under Garda watch.
He is understood to have suffered back injuries in the crash.
The man is expected to appear at a sitting of the courts in the coming days.
The Garda Ombudsman attained the scene of the crash and traffic was diverted for several hours.
A Garda spokesman said the Ombudsman attended the scene as a matter of routine but are not investigating the incident.
“Two people were injured and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital.
“Gardai are appealing for information about the movements of a black Punto on the Barnesmore Gap in the early hours of this morning,” added the spokesman.
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