Suspected drink driver ploughs into cottage in horror crash
Officers spotted a black Skoda haring through multiple traffic lights near Manchester Airport and began a pursuit, with support from a police helicopter. After a chase through country lanes, the getaway car demolished a tree, careered through a 10ft hedge and smashed into a house, wrecking a wall on Broadoak Lane. Minutes earlier, Daniel Ryan had been standing outside the back door, letting his dog out, and has been left in a state of shock.
READ > Police clock drivers speeding on Northwich Road in Knutsford[1] Police at the crash scene after a car ploughed into a cottage (Image: Daniel Ryan)[2] It is understood the driver may have been travelling at between 60mph and 80mph when he lost control of the vehicle.
The 28-year-old and his partner are so traumatised by the crash, they feel they can no longer live in the ‘adorable cottage’ they spent two years turning into their dream home. Daniel said: “We just don’t feel safe. The car wrecked a 10ft hedge before careering into the cottage (Image: Daniel Ryan)
“This is the second time in the past few weeks this has happened. “Someone went through the hedge in November and got stuck. “We’ve had multiple accidents here.
We need to make this dangerous road safer.” Debris strewn over the garden after the car crash (Image: Daniel Ryan) Daniel was watching TV when he suddenly heard ‘screeching tyres’ at around 12.45am on Sunday.
“I had just settled back down on the sofa after letting our five-month-old whippet, Violet, out. “We thought it was a HGV. It sounded like a trailer dragging behind.
“It went through an 11-inch thick tree, snapping it completely in two and straight through our hedge, fence and an eight-foot wooden gate. A downstairs WC was wrecked after the car smashed into the cottage (Image: Daniel Ryan) “It has completely ripped out the roots of the hedge and went into our downstairs WC by the back door, where I had let our whippet out about 20 minutes earlier.
“God, if I had been outside, that’s all I’ve been able to think about. “There were loads of police here from GMP and Cheshire and the chopper was in the sky.” Police have confirmed that a 46-year-old Knutsford driver has been released under investigation for drink driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop.
No charges have been brought. The couple now await loss adjusters to assess the full cost of repairs, expected to run into tens of thousands. “The door is completely ruined and there is extensive damage,” said Daniel, a dental student.
“Last Christmas, I helped more than five people late at night in accidents on this road. “Two people collided on the corner and a man drove into a telegraph pole. “It’s a rat run into Ashley, Hale and Manchester Airport.
“I can’t go to sleep every night worried about people crashing into our home. “We feel like sitting ducks, we have to leave. It’s just not a place I want to be in.
“It’s a shame because it is an adorable cottage inside. We’ve finally got everything in its place. “I’ve only had six hours sleep in the past two days.
“A young family live across the road.
I’m worrying all the time when cars go past.
“This has been such a shock.”
References
- ^ Police clock drivers speeding on Northwich Road in Knutsford (www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk)
- ^ Police at the crash scene after a car ploughed into a cottage (Image: Daniel Ryan) (www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk)