Traffic chaos on one of Derry’s busiest thoroughfares almost saw a nine-month-old child killed this week.

By Eamonn Houston eamonn@derrynews.net

Little Nicola Donegan was in her pram at a taxi rank on William Street on Monday when a car reversed knocking the pram on two wheels.

Her mother, Claire Donegan, who was accompanied by her sister, was able to hold on to the pram while her sister banged on the boot of the car to raise the alarm.

Laurence Donegan, Nicola’s father, told the Derry News that the incident could have ended in tragedy and has blamed traffic congestion in the area for the incident.

He said that the driver had been parked on the pavement and said that his main concern is that there is no repeat of the incident.

“Claire was queued at the rank when a car parked on the pavement reversed and hit the pram,” he said.

“The driver did get out to ask if the child was alright and, while we appreciate that, I would be very concerned that this could happen again.

“This area is always choc-a-bloc with traffic. Claire was very shaken and when she came home she thought about what really could have happened here.

“Had she been on her own, she might not have been able to hold the pram and raise the alarm to the driver.

 “There is such a level of traffic in this area that this could happen again,” Mr Donegan added.