Express & Star

Lucky escape as car hits house in police chase drama

A high speed police chase ended with an innocent driver ploughing into a house in Oldbury.

Published

An unmarked police car had been following a stolen Citroen Picasso when it crashed into a Vauxhall Astra.

The Picasso caused the Astra to hurtle into the front porch of Piara Singh's home in Basons Lane - just metres away from where he was sitting in the dining room.

The Astra driver, in his 40s, suffered multiple broken ribs in the crash and remains in Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital today. Mr Singh escaped without any injury.

Police said the Picasso had been reported stolen from Smethwick High Street on Wednesday night. The 43-year-old driver was arrested.

He suffered superficial injuries and remains in police custody.

Piles of debris lie in the garden in Basons Lane, Oldbury, after a car smashed into the property's porch
Damage to a property after a vehicle crashed

"A man has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, driving while under the influence of drugs, driving without a licence or insurance and failing to stop for an officer, following a collision in Oldbury," said West Midlands Police spokeswoman Sarah Buxton.

"A Citroen Picasso, reported as stolen from Smethwick High Street, was spotted by officers being driven off, just before 8pm. Officers pursued the vehicle a short distance before the Picasso was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Astra, causing it to spin into a house.

"The 43-year-old driver of the Picasso remains in police custody where he is being questioned by officers."

Piara Singh

Retired foundry-worker Mr Singh, aged 75, was sitting in his dining room just metres from where the car smashed into his porch.

He told the Express & Star: "I am little bit shocked and shaken but fortunately I was not hurt.

"Before I knew it there was about 100 maybe 150 people standing outside my house and looking at what had happened."

John Halker, a spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said two ambulances were called to the crash.

Fire crews were also sent to the scene and had to cut one of the drivers from his car.

Spokesperson Pawan Dhande said crews from Oldbury worked to removed the Astra from the property and stabilise the building before handing over to police.

Paramgid Kaur, 55, lives on the opposite side of the junction with her husband and three children.

She said: "There was a big bang and it sounded as if the car had being going very fast."

Police said the crash had been reported to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

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