PICTURES and VIDEO: Trail of destruction as van crashes into Walsall barbers
[gallery] A trail of destruction has been left at a Walsall barbers shop after a van ploughed into it in the early hours of this morning.
The Mercedes Sprinter van hit W.E. Cownley's Barbers and Hairdressers in Pinfold Street, Darlaston, shortly before 4.30am. The driver and passenger fled before police caught up with them. The driver was arrested and the passenger was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries.
This afternoon business owner John Cownley said: "I was alerted at 7.30am a Mercedes Sprinter van had impacted the side of my building and caused this mayhem.
"It's absolutely horrific. It's smashed the business to pieces."
But he pledged: "We'll rebuild and reopen. We won't be beaten at this. Nothing will stop us."
Twitter user @johnp_cooper also posted this video from the scene:
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "We were called at about 4.30am to a crash in Pinfold Street in Walsall.
"Two men initially left the scene. Shortly after the driver was arrested and taken to custody, and the passenger was taken to hospital for minor injuries.
"The van hit a shop which has a flat above. The fire service attended to check no-one was in the building. "
The road was shut while the building was made safe.
