Wolverhampton worker lucky to be alive after car crashes into primary school

The Kia Sorento smashed through metal railings before ploughing into St Patrick's School in Wednesfield.

It hit the Graiseley Lane building at exactly the spot where Louise Clive, the school bursar, was working at her desk on the other side of the external wall.

A torn strip of fencing smashed a window but the brick work held firm after the vehicle was slowed to a near standstill by the sturdy 6ft high railings that surround the premises. The elderly male driver is believed to have had a heart attack before losing control of the 4x4 on a canal bridge as it approached St Patrick's.

The vehicle clipped the side of the bridge and swerved across the road into the school by the main entrance where parents had arrived with children just an hour earlier.

Deeply shocked Mrs Clive said: "I feel very lucky. It is only because of the strength of the wall and the railings that I am here now."

Mrs Wanda Wozmirska, head teacher at the 234-pupil school, added: "Fortunately no member of the school community was hurt as a result of this unforeseen accident. Our bursar, Mrs Clive, had a lucky escape as she was working at her desk at the window near where the car hit the building.

"Two trained first aiders and a builder who was passing by acted quickly to help the injured driver and his passenger."

Vicky Banks, aged 31, from Ashmore Park, who was on the pavement by the canal bridge when the accident happened around 1.30pm, said: "It was not being driven erratically but then suddenly mounted the kerb on the bridge. Then it disappeared over the brow of the hump back bridge and moments later I heard a terrible bang. It was so loud that it made me jump."

Sgt Pete Morrell, from West Midland Police Central Traffic Unit, explained: "The driver of the Kia had some kind of medical episode while at the wheel prior to the accident. It was a lucky escape for those inside. If it had not been for the metal railings the car would have ended up in the school."

Emma Docherty, aged 26, who was among shocked parents collecting their children later, said: "An hour earlier I had been standing with my three year old son Liam at the spot where the crash happened."

The driver was taken for treatment at New Cross Hospital and was later said to be in a serious condition. His female passenger, believed to be his wife, was unhurt.