Runaway car hits pensioner on mobility scooter

A pensioner escaped major injury when her mobility scooter was crushed by an out-of-control car.

In a second crash in the West Midlands, an 84-year-old driver was cut free from his car after it overturned.

The 76-year-old shopper was taken to hospital with facial injuries and cuts after a silver Peugeot car pushed her scooter 25 yards along the pavement before coming to rest on top of it.

The drama happened at about 2.15pm yesterday in Brownhills High Street.

The woman, who is from Brownhills, spent the night at Walsall Manor Hospital and her injuries were today described as "superficial".

The car, driven by a pensioner, mounted the pavement and crashed into four parked cars before hitting the scooter.

Traffic was diverted to surrounding roads for about an hour while emergency crews attended the scene. The damaged parked cars included a BMW, a Fiat and a Vauxhall Astra van.

Pc Ian Garnham, of the road traffic unit, said: "The motorist was an elderly gentleman who had just dropped his wife at the bus stop nearby, when he apparently mounted the pavement and collided with a number of vehicles and the lady on the mobility scooter."

Dental nurse Amy Whitehouse, aged 23, was in the reception area at the Dental Surgery opposite the scene when the collision happened. She said: "I heard a strange noise and when

I looked out of the window a few minutes later I saw the emergency services arriving. I saw an elderly man sitting in the silver car which was on top of the mobility scooter."

Pc Garnham said police were appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call 0345 113 5000.

Meanwhile, firefighters went out to a second crash in Pound Road, Oldbury, at about 4.15pm yesterday after an 84-year-old driver overturned his car.

The road was closed immediately while traffic was diverted, and fire crews cut the roof from the car to get the driver out of the car. The motorist was taken to Sandwell General Hospital for treatment.