Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated 9.53 pm
A 35-year-old woman was knocked down and killed this morning after a collision involving a car and a Luas tram in Dublin’s city centre.
Gardaí say that pedestrian Yao Webster from Donabate in Dublin was struck by a car during the incident at about 8.45 am at the junction of Jervis Street and Abbey Street Upper.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and was removed to the city morgue for a post-mortem examination.
Forensic examinations were carried out at the scene and the street has since reopened to traffic.
Gardaí, three units of Dublin Fire Brigade and a Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance with an advance paramedic on board had attended the scene.
Gardaí are now appealing for witnesses.
- Additional reporting by Rónán Duffy
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Enough of the smart arsed remarks folks. Reports coming in the lady involved has died. May she rest in peace
Could not agree more Al. What is wrong with some people? Why do you all feel the need to have your 5 cents worth? Nobody cares for your opinions right now. Get over yourselves..a woman has died and may she rest in peace
People were commenting about the luas crash before news came through about that poor women dying so it’s not really their faults.
Even still. Smart arsed remarks about any road traffic accident be it a fataler or not are hardly on.
If it was one if them on the luas and got injured would they be making jokes??
I don’t agree with people making jokes, but I also find it pathetic that some people feel the need to post RIP and other such nonsense on a news article
@AL “be it a fataler”, God you sound like some knobhead.
Ban cars from this area! No doubt about it, its too dangerous, RIP young lady
Ban pedestrians instead.
The luas is on one track it doesn’t go anywhere else so why do cars continue to crash into it ?
Accidents happen of course but the luas isn’t a position to steer out of the way
Condolences to this person’s family but why do people continue to take stupid risks. I was approaching the Merrion rail crossing this morning, the red lights were flashing and the barriers were starting to lower yet two cars ignored this and continued to cross the track towards the Merrion Road. When the barrier was lifted they we still sitting in traffic just the other side. Idiots.
I was shocked when I first moved to Dublin, and saw that for any given set of traffic lights in the city centre, at least 2 cars and sometimes up to 4 would run red lights.
Mostly it passes without incident, but I cannot believe that even a serial red-light-runner would not exercise caution around level crossings and where the road is shared with trams.
It’s a big problem on the Drumcondra Road/ Dorset street on weekday mornings I usually wait a moment after the pedestrian light turns green because two or three cars will invariably pass through on a red
I stopped at a red light on Saturday at the Luas crossing at hueston- it had just turned red and I had plenty of time to stop- idiot behind me blows the horn!! He actually presumed, as it had just changed that I wasn’t going to stop and neither was he! Unbelievable!
We had our car written-off in a similar situation, just outside the American Embassy. The guy behind us just assumed we were all going to nip around junction on a red and was travelling a few feet behind us when we stopped.
Time for cameras on traffic lights at dangerous juctions and level crossing similar to speed cameras. Fixed penalty of a couple of hunded quid in the post a few days later and the problem will halve overnight. Think they have such cameras in the UK.
If there are that many motorists breaking red lights, and I don’t dispute that figure, which add up to about 120 per hour, where are the Gardai? It seems like they prefer to catch people driving a couple of km over the speed limit on safe roads. Some people are even given points and fine for driving at the limit, as we’ve heard about a few days ago here on the journal
What are the insurance implications if someone drives into the back of your car, as happened to the reader driving past the American Embassy? Here in Finland the rule is, in principle, that the person behind is at fault.
Same here. Driving too close to the vehicle in front is tailgating, penalty points and fine. The main cause of pile ups on motorways.
I agree Reg, they should have cameras triggered by cars passing through once the light has gone red. Especially on pedestrian lights, cameras are so cheap these days. I have seen even Dublin Busses running the pedestrian lights outside my daughters school, sometimes missing the kids by inches.
The idiots that end up having to stop half way across the crossing are just as bad, forcing the kids to go around them.
Yes. You’d wonder. There’s quite a dangerous junction at millmount house in drumcondra where traffic continuously make illegal left and right turns to go northbound on the n1 through the pedestrian crossing (so avoiding the one way system in place on the cross streets). When those traffic turn the pedestrian light is always green and I’ve seen some very close calls with schoolchildren and elderly pedestrians. Yet it never seems to be monitored. However most mornings there is a traffic cop on a bike further up the hill across from the Skylon, with the seemingly sole task of stopping a few random cars that chance it in the bus lanes. Sure, those cars are in the wrong too, but pose a far smaller risk than the ones turning blindly around corners into pedestrians…
In continental Europe the general rule at a junction is that motorists and pedestrians going in the same direction get a green light at the same time. Right-turning vehicles can then cross the pedestrian crossing, when it’s clear, even though the light is green. I wonder would the same system work in Ireland (with left-turning traffic, that is). Sarah Casey, you should call your local garda station and tell them to monitor that junction.
Yes, I suppose I should really. Better than just moaning about it here!
This is not the first serious incident to happen near this spot.
http://www.thejournal.ie/pedestrians-jervis-street-749913-Jan2013/
Time to clamp down on these irresponsible motorists in the city centre though its sad to think that we nearly need to have gardai minding the luas tracks because idiots wont obey basic rules of the road.
Ive seen a good few incidents at that particular junction. Its usually cars breaking the lights. We were upstairs in Smiths last year having a meal. There was a man lying on ground after been hit by car or tram. I couldnt get over the amount of people taking photos of the poor man. Disgusting. Rip to that poor lady
From what I was told by security down there is not good news. Terrible.
They need to stop traffic coming into Jervis. Such a small junction with so many people. Always incidents down there
R.I.P. to that lady
She’s the KINDEST person we know, and such a SHOCK for all of us. make her Rest In Peace!! Love you forever!!!
Hey. Is it FU YAO?! I am so shocked. I am an old friend of her and I could not get through her mobile so I am not sure if Yao Webster is Yao fu? Please if you know her. Thanks.
RIP to that poor lady.
I saw the accident on my way to work this morning when the Luas was still running. I didn’t actually realise someone was hurt as I only saw the driver of the car look extremely shaken and the car up on the footpath :( There are too many accidents at that junction on a regular basis and something drastic needs to be done about it.
I was on that Luas this morning on the way to work. It was horrific what happened to that lady. To see her lifeless body on the pavement will have a lasting effect on me. I have been reeling all day after it. My sympathies with the family.
RIP to the poor lady :( also I hope your ok after what you saw. It’s not easy to come across situations like that.
Me Too Tom. I saw the whole thing happen. My thoughts are with the poor woman, her family and also the luas driver who looked very shaken up afterwards.
Thank you Tom, and others who have left kind comments. GodBless! And yes, to the journal.ie: a poster should be able to delete comments. Step over the privacy boundaries with us, and we will literally sue you into bankruptcy!
Oh shit, that headline changed quickly. What a tragedy :(
I’ve said this before and got laughed at but the luas is grey with very high little high visiblity markings. People obviously arent seeing it in their blind spots. It has one low strip of yellow. The rest blends with the background of grey buildings. We have terrible side vision and despite what people thing, we only tend to focus on one narrow cone of sight. Not to mention the corner pillars of cars tends to block some of your side view.
If it were in bright colours from wheel to roof would there be as many accidents? Some of them are still stupid drivers taking chances but it might cut a few of them.
Look at the picture above – it doesnt exactly stand out.
Convex mirrors, and body movement eliminate blind spots on both sides. If motorists are so concerned about saving lives they should have them on their vehicles.
John your comment reminds me when Man U got beaten when they wore the away grey strip. Maybe Luas should be brighter it might help, but most of these accidents are caused by breaking traffic lights.
John. What about grey vehicles, or black, dark blue, green? Lights don’t blend into background so should be on at ALL times as they will reduce road crashes.
John, I hav to agree with you. A grey Luas on a grey street is not the best situation but the lights must have been red for the driver of the car anyway. I still think you are correct and the Luas could be green or green and orange for that reason.
That might be a very good point- you often don’t notice grey in amongst other greys on the street. I remember for a while there was a lovely colourful LUAS running on the green line- I think it was decorated for a novelty reason- and it was so colourful that u couldn’t miss it!
It won’t prevent all accidents of course, especially ones caused by careless driving. RIP to that poor woman who was killed; thoughts are with her friends and family.
Too many bloody LUAS / Car collisions. What a horrible way to have your life taken away. I have noticed over recent months more and more aggressive driving in the city. Prayers to the family
The Luas “taking cars off the road for 10 years”
Made before there was a fatality
Still, maybe people will stop trotting this old joke on the Journal talk backs every single time there is a crash between a car and a luas.
Dear God…a truely awful accident. Can car drivers think before they “interact” with the LUAS.
R.I.P
Poor lady.
I think the journal needs to stop doing the what comment got the most likes at the end of the wk piece,ppl try to be smart and funny in order to get the likes.
Very sad news rip
The first few comments here look very harsh but went up before news came through that a woman was killed…
No excuse, ignorance should not allow for snarky and poor attitude
R.I.P.
It’s time they started putting bull bars on the Luas or Thomas the Tank Engine cow catchers! Take your pick!
The Luas already has them, they drop down in front of the front wheels preventing anyone from going under the front of the tram. The lady in question was struck by a car, not the Luas. RIP
Made before fatality. V. Different story now. R.I.P.
Did you even read the story? The pedestrian was struck by the car.
Genuine accidents aside, look how much inconvenience carelessness on the roads can cause for everyone else. If nothing else, it’s selfish and uncivic. And it seems to be getting worse rather than better. Must try harder.
I’ve just seen the headline change. I didn’t realise the scene was so bad. RIP that poor lady. Thoughts with her family and friends. Just awful. I hope my original post didn’t come off glib but this lady’s death underlines my point even further; we have to get our roads in order and vastly improve the driving culture in Ireland.
The journal should allow the original poster to delete their own comments.
I agree.
Carelessness and dangerous driving is not caused accidentally. Any motorist who causes injury to another road user should get a ban, heavy fine, court appearance etc etc. the same as a drink driver.
My partner and I made comments on that very section of track being a death trap just yesterday. Cars going onto the track, mixed with them rushing to get ahead of the luas is a terrible combination and this lady has paid the terrible price.
What scares me is the people on the internet saying that the Luas is at fault and should be removed from the city!?!?!?! Luas’s do not have a regular brake system, they have to slow to a stop to avoid severe injury to everyone on board. I do not envy public transport drivers in this city! The driver of the car has caused severe heartache to many people, but no doubt they are in a severe state of shock too. Everyone loses in these situations. There should be no one allowed on the track there but the luas, though I have to say, the gardaí often go through it and they should be leading by example.
Agreed about the Garda. I have seen them motoring up against the traffic. Someone is going to get hit by a Garda car one of these days along Abbey Street – it’s a disgrace – there’s no reason for it.
RIP to that lady. That junction is very small for such a busy area.
They should make a reality show about the Jervis luas stop – non-stop drama guaranteed
Was in total shock when I heard the news on my way into town this morning! The poor woman….a total freak accident while she was on her way to work! May she rest in peace, my thoughts and prayers are with her family as they attempt to come to terms with this horrible sudden news!
Even disney world has a mono rail and we have luas a glorified bus.
Great.
Thanks for commenting.
I think the hashtag #tragedy is a bit insensitive. I know every story should probably have one, but here something like #roads might have sounded less like an S-Club 7 song.
Jesus Christ some of the comments on this are disgraceful! A young woman has lost her life..insensitive a$$holes!!
God help her family. What a traumatic time for them. May she RIP.
It doesn’t help that the jervis car park is so near there. The main reason i’d imagine.
Proximity to a car park shouldnt have any bearing on people breaking red lights or any other careless driving
R.I.P. Can anyone tell me that victim is a Chinese woman or ?
Hi Tanyu
Yes she was Chinese her name was Fu Yao married to an Irish Guy. Just had a baby two years or so ago.
R.I.P Fu Yao
Omg RIP
Poor woman. My thoughts are with her family and friends.
Very sad RIP
I cannot understand why a post-mortem is undertaken when it is quite clear how she died. Is this not the final insult to her family knowing that she will be ‘taken to pieces’ for no good reason other then protocol. The law is an ‘ass’.
Just heard that this is the lady who worked in post office on ushers quay. Go there a lot so knew her to say hello and have a chat. Very sad to hear thus. Rip
have your say