High street closed as car crashes through town centre shop window

TWO people were injured when a car crashed through the window of an outdoor activities shop in Christchurch, showering the area with shattered glass.

Emergency crews rushed to High Street, where a Ford Fiesta had gone backwards through the front of Mountain Warehouse, colliding with a pedestrian in the process, around 1.30pm today (Tuesday).

Firefighters had to pull the vehicle from the store as the driver and elderly pedestrian, who are both women, were treated at the scene by paramedics. They were taken by ambulance to hospital.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesperson said their conditions were not thought to be serious.

Having ensured the glass-covered surroundings were made safe, the firefighters left the scene after just over half an hour.

Gary Theobald, press officer at the Regent Centre theatre, described hearing a “massive bang” as he and his colleagues worked in their office above the neighbouring Christchurch Information Centre.

“We thought it was a car accident as it was that typical thump noise of a collision, but when we rushed to the window we were amazed to see this car half in and half out of the shop window,” he told the A&T.

“There was broken glass all around the car, which was from the shop window rather than the car itself. We could see people starting to help those who were in the area at the time it happened.

“There was a reasonable number of people in the High Street at the time – the normal sort of number you would expect to see. I’m not aware of any other injuries.”

At around 2.45pm, the vehicle was being examined by police officers while half on the pavement and half on the road outside Mountain Warehouse. It was recovered from the scene within the next two hours.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said the High Street was closed between the Fountain Roundabout and Castle Street while the incident was dealt with.