Driver’s fight for life after stolen car hits post

THE wrecked Nissan Micra which hit a lamp post leaving the driver fighting for his life

A MAN was left fighting for his life when a stolen car demolished a lamp post in Denshaw.

A police officer, on routine patrol and driving an unmarked police car, spotted the stolen Nissan Micra in Ripponden Road, Denshaw, in the early hours of Saturday.

The Micra did a U-turn and as the officer also began to turn, the Micra sped off, and crashed in Oldham Road, opposite the Printer’s Arms car park.

Firemen from Oldham had to cut two men from the car which was left on its side on the pavement, in an operation lasting 90 minutes.

The driver, a 20-year-old man, was taken to Tameside Hospital with serious injuries. Today he is critical and on a life-support machine. Two passengers less seriously injured were taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed, and in line with Greater Manchester Police procedures, the officer has been taken off driving duties pending the investigation.

The crash and thud of the lamp post falling woke Gary Davey, a director of the Printer’s Arms, who saw one man get out of the car, where two more were trapped.

He said: “It was about 2.15, and I heard a bang and then the police sirens. At first I thought we were being broken into because I heard and felt the thud, but it must have been the lamp post. The Micra was on its side.

“A few seconds later the unmarked police car came up. One man got out of the Micra, and my wife Karen, who’s a newly-qualified nurse, assisted the lad. He had a gash on his neck and appeared to have a broken shoulder.

“When she saw he was OK she went to see if she could do anything for the two in the car. They had seat belts on but they were trapped. She talked to them to get a response, felt for a pulse, and reassured them.”

The road was closed from the Black Horse pub to Grains Bar for nine hours as firemen made the car safe and police carried out investigations.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of burglary, one has been released but is in hospital with a broken leg, the other is still in custody.