Driver 'lucky to be alive' after car smashes into landmark A5 pub
A car smashed into the toilets of a pub in Staffordshire in the early hours of today, leaving the driver seriously injured.
The vehicle ploughed into the Longford House pub in Watling Street at about 1.35am.
It was embedded in the building and the driver, a man in his late 30s, was trapped for 90 minutes. He had suffered serious leg injuries - and emergency crews said he was lucky to survive.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman John Hawker said: "Crews arrived to find a car that had left the road, travelled over a wall and entered the toilets of the Longford House Beefeater Public House.
"The car was imbedded in the building and the man driving the car was significantly trapped.
"Ambulance crews worked with the Trusts MERIT trauma team and Hazardous Area Response Team, along with the Fire Service to make the scene safe and then treat the man whilst he was still trapped by his legs.
"The man, believed to be in his late 30's, continued to received treatment to his leg injuries for the 90 minutes that he was trapped. On request of the trauma Doctor at the scene, blood supplies from hospital were transported to the incident to aid his treatment and release from the vehicle.
"Once the man was released, he was transferred by ambulance with the Doctor on board to University Hospital Major Trauma Unit for further emergency treatment. The hospital had been pre alerted to the man's arrival and his injuries."
"Considering the damage to the car and the extensive damage to the building, it is extremely fortunate no one was more seriously or fatally injured in the crash."
