Two in critical condition after car crashes into RTÉ TV crew making crime series

Tue, 01 Dec, 2015 - 18:50

Two men remain in a critical condition in hospital after a car crashed into a RTÉ TV crew filming a crime series in Belfast.

Another man and a woman who were also injured in Monday night’s collision are in a stable condition.

In total six people were taken to hospital after the vehicle mounted the footpath in the Boucher Road industrial estate in the south of the city.

A man and a women were discharged on Tuesday after spending the night in hospital.

A Belfast-based independent production company, commissioned by RTÉ, was filming part of a new crime reconstruction series in the area.

Crew members were in the process of setting up to film a scene near the junction of Falcon Road and Apollo Road when the collision happened.

A 24-year-old man arrested following the incident was subsequently released on bail pending further police enquiries.

John McPoland, from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, said the crash prompted the unusual step of declaring a major incident. Seven ambulances attended the scene.

“We declared it a major incident because of the number of resources required and the number of patients involved,” said Mr McPoland.

The crime series being shot by Stirling Productions is due to air on RTÉ2 next year.

A spokeswoman for RTÉ said: “RTÉ is aware of the incident where members of an independent production company filming in Belfast city last night were injured by a car.

“The programme they were working on at the time is an independently produced series commissioned by RTÉ television.

“The PSNI are currently investigating the incident. RTÉ cannot comment further at this time.

“Our thoughts are with those involved and their families.”