Stolen bin truck crashes into level crossing with DART services cancelled

The driver was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and no other injuries were reported.

The vehicle had failed to stop for gardaí at a checkpoint just before 6pm on Ormond Quay Lower, with the movements monitored by a number of units after gardaí became aware it was “subject to an unauthorized taking,” a garda spokesperson said.

It later collided with the level crossing barriers in Sutton.

The small bin truck was stolen from Parliament Street in the city centre this evening while a member of the waste management staff emptied a bin, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council (DCC) confirmed.

The the side-loader vehicle then made its way from the city centre to Sutton station 15km away, a journey that takes nearly 40 minutes to drive in a standard car.

The bin truck then smashed into the level crossing, resulting in the cancellation of all DARTs between Howth and Howth Junction for the rest of the evening.

The staff member on Parliement Street immediately contacted their supervisor to inform them of the incident, then they contacted gardaí about the missing vehicle.

“Dublin City Council understands that Gardaí subsequently intercepted the vehicle some time later,” they added. “The City Council would like to thank the Gardai for their assistance in this matter.”

A garda spokesperson said the vehicle had failed to stop during a traffic enforcement checkpoint at approximately 5.40pm this evening on Ormond Quay Lower.

“Following enquiries, gardaí became aware this vehicle was subject to an unauthorized taking earlier in the afternoon in the North Central area of Dublin city and the movements of the vehicle was monitored by a number of Garda units,” they added.

“This vehicle later collided with level crossing barriers at a railway level crossing in Sutton where it came to a stop.

“The male driver was taken to a Dublin Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No other persons have reported injuries to An Garda Síochána at this time.”

A garda investigation into all the circumstances of the incident are ongoing and gardaí confirmed they are following a definite line of enquiry.

Dart services between Howth Junction and Howth remain suspended until further notice.

Dublin Bus continues to accept rail tickets in the affected area.

Northside rail services were also suspended earlier today due to a separate incident on the line at Howth Junction.

DART and Northern Commuter services were impacted, reopening between Harmonstown and Malahide until the latest incident when a vehicle struck the level crossing in Sutton.

It comes following a collision on the M7 and an earlier collision on the M50 which led to travel disruption for commuters this evening.

A collision on the M7 between Junction 2 Kingswood and Junction 3 City led to the blockage of two lanes and caused tailbacks this evening.

Reports of deer on the motorway and an earlier collision on the M50 northbound before J10 (Ballymount) added to delays on the route this evening.

Today’s News in 90 seconds – 30th May 2024

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