From next year onward, such a crash will not be capable of happening again. In earlier years the crossing had had a gatekeeper, but he was not replaced upon retirement. In the meantime, this is not the first time there have been impacts and near-misses at that spot.
Locals blame the curve of the line for lack of visibility.
The accident occurred at 8.50 on Tuesday morning. A relief lorry driver with Dairygold, Mr Bourke, from nearby Oola, received head injuries in the crash, and had to be cut from the wreckage by firemen. Train driver, Paddy O'Regan, was uninjured, and the 30 passengers were all unhurt apart from one lady in shock. The train had been the 8.35 feeder out of Limerick to connect with the Dublin-Cork train at the Junction. Speculation in the vicinity was that if the lorry had come into contact with the engine pulling the train, instead of being in collision with the carriage immediately behind, there could have been a derailment.