‘What’s going on?’ – Carlton neighbours in shock after car crashes into hair salon in police chase

Neighbours were left in a state of shock after a car crashed into a hair salon premises in Carlton[1]. Police[2] had begun following a silver Ford Focus in St Ann's[3] at around 12.25am this morning (Friday December 15). At 12.50am, it collided with the Image Hair Fashions building on the corner of Willow Road and Burton Road. A 49-year-old was taken to hospital as well as being arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving when unfit through alcohol or drugs.

The road was closed overnight but opened again earlier this morning (December 15). One police car and officer remained on the scene while surveyors assessed the damage. Lorraine Jaundrill lives a few doors away on Burton Road.

She was sleeping when the crash happened and was awoken by the sound. She said: "I heard it but couldn't really see anything from where I am so didn't realise how bad it was until this morning. I thought the car had just hit the lamppost.

"But the police arrived seconds after and shouted 'stay in the car, stay in the car.' There were two fire engines, an ambulance and initially four unmarked police cars. They blocked off the road. Then two more unmarked cars turned up.

"Officers were going up and down the road with torches looking at the houses. Then even more unarmed cars turned up. I was less scared than quite intrigued.

I thought: 'what's going on?'" The front door to the salon premises was completely caved in, with glass and brickwork strewn over the floor. The business was closed and the owners did not appear to be on site in the morning.

Around six surveyors and builders from a constructional company began to secure the structure at around midday. The car remained where it is with damage mainly to its right side.

Inside, both front and passenger airbags were deployed. The front number hung off with the windscreen smashed all over and the right hand side destroyed and covered in dust and debris from the bricks it collided with.

Mark Nawarcyz lives in the flat directly above the salon. He wasn't at home at the time of the crash. He told Nottinghamshire Live: "I got a call from the landlord this morning.

It was quite a shock. It's a good thing I wasn't there. I've been told my flat is not structurally damaged, but that I shouldn't go in the living room just yet until they get the building propped up."

The property next door to the salon had been visited by the granddaughter of the woman who lives there, but who had also not been in at the time of the crash. She said the house had not been affected. Chief Inspector Neil Humphris, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Colleagues at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service[4] and East Midlands Ambulance Service[5] were called to the scene and a man was safely removed from the vehicle and taken to hospital.

"A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop, dangerous driving and driving when unfit through alcohol or drugs.

If you saw what happened or have any dashcam footage which could assist police with their investigation, please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 12 of 15 December 2023."

References

1. ^ Carlton (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ Police (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ St Ann's (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue service (www.nottinghampost.com)
5. ^ East Midlands Ambulance Service (www.nottinghampost.com)