AN OFF-LICENCE owner in Warwick is amazed no one was killed when a car crashed through the front of his shop as he was serving a customer.
The car driven by a woman in her 80s mounted the pavement on Woodloes Avenue South and careered into Stratwicks on Reardon Court shortly after 2pm on Saturday afternoon July 5 – pushing back the counter owner Chetan Patel was serving behind.
The 50-year-old – known to all as ‘Chet’ – was unhurt and immediately jumped over the counter to check on the driver, who despite having to be cut free by firefighters, was shaken but otherwise uninjured.
The only casualty was regular customer Brian, in his 60s, whose leg got trapped. He was taken to Warwick Hospital and has since undergone an operation on his knee and is now on the mend.
Mr Patel said he was thankful no one was more seriously hurt.
He told The Observer: “It all happened so quickly. It was just lucky there were no kids around outside or someone near the front door or the consequences could have been catastrophic.
“It really was a shock – like something you expect to see on television. I heard the screech of tyres and then the car was in front of me. I could reach out and touch the windscreen.”
Fortunately there was space behind the counter so although it was pushed back, Mr Patel was not hurt and was able to check on the driver and help Brian, who he has since visited in hospital.
The only other person in the shop at the time was a friend of Mr Patel who suffered a graze to his knee.
Mr Patel – whose family have run the shop for 32 years – said the community had been “fantastic” in their offers of help.
“I really can’t thank people enough for the message of support and offers of help to clean up, said Mr Patel. “It really has been fantastic. I must say a huge thanks to all in the local community.”
Mr Patel said he was hoping to re-open the shop as soon as possible and was meeting with his insurance company on Tuesday (July 8).
* A MAN was airlifted to hospital when he suffered a serious head injury after falling off a quad bike.
It happened in a field off Banbury Road around 2.30pm on Sunday July 6.
Medics treated him at the scene for head and arm injuries before he was flown by air ambulance to University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire for further treatment.
No one else was involved or injured in the accident.
