Lesson ends in front room
Reporter: Story: andrew rudkin
Date published: 30 September 2011
Photo: Pictures: DARREN ROBINSON
THE people carrier embedded in the house
A DRIVING instructor ploughed into the front of a house after losing control of his student’s vehicle.
The learner driver who was a passenger in a modified people carrier was taken to hospital after the crash in Failsworth.
The unoccupied property was left crumbling after what is a believed to be “electronic malfunction” caused the vehicle to veer off into the property on Brown Street, at 2.40pm, yesterday afternoon.
Colin Baglin (28) and another neighbour dashed to the scene.
Mr Baglin said: “I was changing one of the wheels on my car when I saw the car crash into the house.
“The passenger is a man with disabilities, so the vehicle had special controls in it.
“Both men were in shock and the passenger was white as a ghost, but both were conscious.
“The instructor said nothing like this had happened to him in 14 years and the vehicle just lost control when he was bringing the passenger home.
“Everyone on the street came out to see what had happened.”
Four firefighters, including crews from Hollins and Ashton attended the scene along with an Urban Search and Rescue Team.
Both men were taken out of the vehicle before the crews’ arrival.
It is believed the instructor was not injured but paramedics took the learner driver, believed to be a young male in his twenties to Royal Oldham Hospital.
Firefighters were swift into action to see if anyone was inside the property and to shore up the front of the house.
Incident Fire Commander Tony Morgan told the Chronicle at the scene: “The house has been unoccupied for a while, as it is up for sale by the owner, who has since been informed.
“No one was inside the house and no other houses were affected.
“There was damage to the front of the building and electrical damage, so we have had to take precautions with the electricity and gas.
“It is believed at this stage there was an electronic malfunction on the car, which caused the vehicle to unexpectedly go into the front of the building.”
Greater Manchester Police confirmed no action was taken on the male driving instructor.
