A COMMUNITY is in shock after a pub was partially demolished when two cars crashed into it.
These images show the seriousness of the horrific crash which resulted in three people suffering injury and extensive damage to the Bridge Inn in Tarvin Road, Chester.
Emergency services, which were called shortly after 6.30am yesterday, found a BMW X5 car on top of a Vauxhall Vectra and rubble from the pub building had crashed down on to both.
Residents living nearby believe a family lives in the upper floors of the three-storey building but no-one from the pub was hurt.
Bunk beds and a radiator could be seen hanging from the second floor, leading many residents to believe the family had a lucky escape.
One man, who did not wish to be named, said: “The family do live above the pub, but I think they live on the other side to where the crash was.
“The cars must have hit the building with such force they’ve been incredibly lucky not to be hurt or killed.”
Residents reported hearing a loud bang and woke to the sound of a police helicopter overhead.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports that one of the cars had caught fire and a man was trapped.
A spokesman said: “Firefighters put out a small fire at the front of one of the vehicles and found that although some casualties had been able to get out, one was still trapped in his car under the rubble of the partly collapsed property. Crews then stabilised the vehicle and used specialist hydraulic cutting gear to release the casualty while the hazardous area response team took the medical lead with a doctor and an advanced paramedic.”
The North West Ambulance Service reported two men and a woman had been injured in the crash.
A spokesman said: “A man in his 20s from the vehicle on top was taken to Countess of Chester Hospital suffering from a serious right-arm injury.
“A second patient, a female, from the same vehicle was also taken to hospital and another man, who was trapped in the vehicle underneath, suffered a lower back injury but neither were thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.”
Cheshire Police are appealing for witnesses who can help piece together what happened.
Inspector Ian Stead said: “One of the cars collided with the Bridge Inn pub causing significant damage to the building.
“Nobody in the house was hurt and the good news is there were no fatalities.”
A section of Tarvin Road was closed following the accident and yesterday afternoon traffic was still being diverted at the Shell Garage on the corner of Green Lane while a JCB and a team from Total Demolition Limited worked at the scene.
Nobody from the pub was available for comment yesterday.
Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 274 on July 1.