Police car in crash drama

The Vauxhall Omega patrol car collided with a red Nissan Sunny in Leeds Road, Bradford, at about 7.30am today and smashed through the plate glass window of a car showroom.

A young woman driver of the Nissan was injured in the accident and firemen extinguished a fire which broke out under the bonnet of the police car.

The police car had been called to reports of gunshots being fired at an address in Rochester Road, Bradford Moor, and a police spokesman said it had been travelling with its lights flashing and sirens sounding. Officers later went to the house and two local men were arrested at the scene.

The spokesman said no weapons were recovered from the address and both men were taken to Bradford Central Police station were they were due to be interviewed.

The accident comes two weeks after a man was killed in Great Horton Road, Bradford, when he was struck by a car spotted earlier by a police patrol.

The woman driver injured today - who has not yet been named - was taken to the Bradford Royal Infirmary.

As investigations continued into the accident which happened in rush hour traffic, the police officer involved in the crash said it had been no-one's fault.

PC Martin Anstess, who was driving the car, accompanied by PC Jason Phillips, said: "We were going to a job. I tried to swerve but went into the garage as you can see. The other driver was really upset, poor lass."

Sergeant Robert Knapp said: "We were responding to a potentially very serious incident involving firearms.

"It looks quite a serious accident, but thankfully no one was seriously injured. We will investigate this and treat it exactly the same way as any other accident."

The Vauxhall Omega police car caused extensive damage to the 4 Line car show room.

Insp Jerry Benson, of Bradford Central Police, said: "Early reports indicate that the police car was attending the scene of a reported firearms incident when the accident occurred. It appears that the police vehicle left the road and ended up going through a shop window."

A police spokesman said the female driver was not thought to be seriously hurt but an ambulance had taken her to BRI minutes after the crash. No one else was hurt in the incident and the police officer driving the car escaped unhurt.

The woman driver had been turning out of Knowsley Street when the two cars collided.

Garage owner Rafik Mulla, who runs the Thrust Petrol Station, said: "The lady had just filled up with petrol and she was pulling out of my garage. I know the whole family, they are a local Pakistani family.

"I didn't see the incident. A policeman came here to get my fire extinguisher. Accidents happen. It isn't anyone's fault. I think she is a very lucky lady."

A crew from Bradford fire station was called to the scene around 7.45am today.

Station officer Philip Whitaker said: "A police car and another car were involved in the incident. They glanced off each other and the police car smashed into the front window of a car showroom on Leeds Road.

"Smoke was coming out of the bonnet of the car, which we extinguished using a hose reel.

"We had to force open the car door of the other car to get the female driver out. She was slightly injured and was later taken to hospital."

Fire officers were on the scene for about half an hour. A spokesman for the Ambulance Service confirmed that they had been called to the incident around 7.30am and had taken one patient to hospital.

It comes almost two weeks after Raymond Thompson of Hartington Terrace, Lidget Green, was killed on Great Horton Road at its junction with Ward Street.

The accident happened on Friday, October 15, when Mr Thompson, known to his friends as Keith, was knocked down at about by a black BMW as he attempted to cross the road. The stolen car had jumped a red light.

A marked police car had spotted the BMW earlier in the day in Buttershaw and been looking for the vehicle when the accident happened.

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