Lights, carnage, action

The Mercedes ploughed through road furniture at the junction

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A HIGH-SPEED smash that demolished traffic lights and scattered bollards was like a scene from a Hollywood action movie, onlookers claimed.

Witnesses watched in horror as a blue Mercedes — reportedly being chased by police — ploughed into the busy junction of Shaw Road and Huddersfield Road, showering vehicles with debris.

Aminur Rahman and Ali Hussain were in a van at the lights and said they were sure they were going to die as they helplessly watched the vehicle race towards them at speed.

Aminur (32) said their initial relief at escaping unscathed was short-lived as moments later part of a bollard smashed into their windscreen.

Shortly after the smash at around 10.35am yesterday, he and Ali (29) saw the driver jump out of the badly-damaged Mercedes and run off up Shaw Road.

“I honestly believe if those bollards hadn’t been there the car would have ploughed into us and we would have been dead,” said Aminur.

“The car just seemed to fall out of the sky and then I watched as the cap off a bollard just flew towards us. It was terrifying, all I could think about was my two children.

“I got out of the van and couldn’t stop shaking. Then the police arrived and they were brilliant.”

Builder Ali said: “It was like a scene out of a Hollywood movie. I just shut my eyes as it unfolded around me and just expected to die. I just wish I’d got out and tried to stop the driver, but I was in too much shock.”

The car had overtaken them on the wrong side of the road going towards the junction minutes earlier - which was when police going the other way gave chase.

The Mercedes reappeared on Huddersfield Road, followed by a patrol car, before smashing into the junction in front of horrified drivers at the lights.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said the Mercedes collided with a Vauxhall van and a Mazda at the junction, but there were no injuries.

The Mercedes driver is described as white with closely-cropped hair, in his mid-30s.

Police are appealing for witnesses. Call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.