Mum on ‘terrifying’ moment driver ‘drove toward crowd’ waiting on …

A Northern Ireland mum has told of the ‘terrifying’ moment a lorry driver allegedly ‘drove on the wrong side of the road towards a crowd’ in Co Antrim[1]. The crowd were waiting to see a glimpse of US President Joe Biden’s car as he left RAF Aldergrove after landing in Northern Ireland. The incident happened on Tuesday night, April 11 near Belfast International Airport[2].

Police said they have “arrested a man on suspicion of dangerous driving after he failed to stop at a vehicle checkpoint which was in place to facilitate the Presidential cavalcade on the Ballyrobin Road, Crumlin on Tuesday, 11th April.” A PSNI[4] spokesperson added: “The 49-year-old man was driving a lorry which was seen to be progressing on the wrong side of the road just before 9.50pm. “Officers safely stopped the vehicle and the driver was instructed to dismount and hand over his keys.

“The man has since been bailed to allow for further police enquiries.” Eyewitness Mary Toman said: “We brought the kids up a drive to obviously watch the Air Force planes and stuff coming in. “We had parked on a wee lay-by and we were all out of the car watching the planes and stuff land and then we went to leave after watching the planes and stuff coming in…

“We were actually parked just before the roundabout and people were starting to get out of their cars and stuff and they were getting out to watch the security cars and obviously the president and stuff coming [a]round the roundabout.

“The police had actually moved the kids up to the front so that they could get a better view of it.” Mary continued: “There were a couple hundred people standing there with their kids…. We heard a horn blasting and turned round and there was a big 40ft lorry coming up… the wrong side of the road, towards everybody.

“He was on the wrong side of the road because all the cars were parked… on the correct side of the road, so no cars were moving. “That lane there was completely free so he came up the wrong side of the road and just basically, everybody just [fled].” Mary added: “It was scary like, but it was more for the kids and stuff.

I have a wee one at seven, who has autism – she was petrified, she was crying, a 13-year-old crying, panicking a wee bit and my step-daughter also was there. She was panicking also. “Loads of kids crying, people screaming and just running, running to the side of the road and the police, they were trying to move everybody to the side of the road.”

A spokesperson from the company who owns the lorry said: “The driver was only an employee and is now no longer employed by us.

“We are shocked and upset by his actions and can only apologise to everyone involved and thankful that nobody was hurt.”

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References

1. ^ Co Antrim (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
2. ^ Belfast International Airport (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
3. ^ Recap on US President Joe Biden’s Belfast visit (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
4. ^ PSNI (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
5. ^ here (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
6. ^ sign up to our daily newsletter (www.belfastlive.co.uk)