Two young men miraculously escaped serious, life-threatening injury as their car rocketed through Crossgar crashing into parked cars, damaging a pub and demolishing a bus shelter.
A Crossgar Councillor was “absolutely dismayed” at the scene of devastation on the Downpatrick Road in the village this morning after a car travelling at high speed crashed causing very significant damage in the immediate area.
Cllr Terry Andrews said: “Details are sketchy at the moment but the police and investigating the incident. It appears to have happened around 4.30am this morning with a car, a VW Golf, travelling on the Downpatrick Road at a very high speed colliding with other parked cars, smashing into the front of Carmen’s bar and destroying the bus shelter opposite.
“The old water pump that had been there for a 100 years too was wrecked. If this had happened during the day time there would have been likely fatalities.”
Three parked cars were struck with the speeding vehicle and although the four occupants of the car were believed to be badly shaken, one is thought to have significant leg injuries. The car was unrecognisable after the crash, with its engine lying in front of Carmen’s Inn.
One local resident early on the scene said: “The ambulance arrived very quickly, within ten minutes along with the police and NI Fire and Rescue Service. It was an incredible scene of devastation. Almost as though a bomb had gone off. Debris was spread over a wide area.”
Another resident on the Downpatriock Road said: “There was an almighty bang just after 4.30am. The village was asleep and thank goodness there was no-one around when this happened. It could have been very tragic. The police are giving this incident a lot of attention.”
Cars were diverted round the Square in Crossgar causing a small degree of disruption as the Downpatrick Road is a main artery between Belfast and Downpatrick.
Police are currently investigating the incident. A police spokesperson said that they are appealing for information following a one vehicle road traffic collision in Crossgar this morning (Monday, March 1).
“It was reported shortly after 4.45am that a car had collided with a number of parked vehicles on Downpatrick Street.
“As a result of this, two men have been taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries.
“The road is expected to remain closed for some time and local diversions are in place.”
Anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information or dashcam footage should contact police on 101 quoting reference 171 of 1/3/21.
A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via:
http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at:
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