POLICE say a vehicle involved in a serious crash on the Monagh Bypass in West Belfast on Sunday was not being pursued by police at the time.
They say a video circulating on social media following the collision is a recording of dashcam footage from the crash taken at the time the emergency services arrived on the scene. Police say there was no police pursuit involved in the road traffic collision, and no police vehicles were in the area at the time of the collision.
Police received a report at approximately 7.15pm on Sunday evening of a collision involving a blue Volkswagen Golf and a silver Ford Kuga. Both drivers and a passenger were taken onward to hospital for treatment to their injuries
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police are aware of a video showing a road traffic collision which occurred at the Monagh Bypass area of West Belfast on Sunday 13th September.
"Enquiries have established the video was filmed after the collision, with background noise from Emergency Service colleagues who arrived at the scene.
"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information including dash-cam or other video footage of what happened, is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1308 of 13/09/26.
"A report can also be made using the online reporting form via https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals."
Meanwhile, Independent West Belfast Councillor Paul Doherty has called for immediate action from the Department for Infrastructure on road safety along the Monagh Bypass following the serious collision.
Councillor Doherty said concerns around speeding, pedestrian safety and the overall design of the road have been raised repeatedly by residents, and that the time for simply acknowledging those concerns has passed.
Thirteen months ago, Cllr Doherty wrote to the Infrastructure Minister calling for greater speed-reduction measures and further safety improvements following an incident nearby in which three children were struck by a car.
Councillor Doherty said: “The serious collision on the Monagh Bypass again underlines why residents have been calling for action on this road for so long.
“I raised these concerns directly with the Infrastructure Minister 13 months ago and called for stronger speed-reduction measures and further safety improvements. Those concerns have not gone away.
“I am now calling for an urgent and comprehensive road-safety review of the Monagh Bypass and the surrounding residential areas, with a clear commitment that it will lead to action.
“The Department needs to look seriously at speed-reduction measures, pedestrian safety, junction design, signage, lighting and the overall layout of this route.
“Residents do not need another acknowledgement letter. They need to know what is going to change, when it is going to happen and what practical measures will be put in place to reduce risk.
“There has been enough warning. The priority now must be delivering real safety improvements before another serious incident takes place.”
Councillor Doherty said he will be writing again to the Department for Infrastructure seeking an urgent review and a clear timetable for action.
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker is calling on people to not share the video.
"There must come a point as a society when people stop and think before they record and share content online," he said. "A very serious crash is being shared openly via social media. Families will see this and may not know if their loved ones are hurt or not.
"Please stop sharing and think of the hurt a video will cause before you record and post. I hope and pray those involved are okay."
