'I'm lucky me and the dog are not brown bread' - Willenhall residents react to Good Friday police pursuit crash
There were a few clues in the quiet corner of Willenhall of the car crash which was the culmination of a Good Friday which will live long in the memory of Walsall police officers.
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A hole where a lamppost had stood until being crashed into and glass surrounding another lamppost where the car came to rest was all to show for the huge police operation 24 hours before.
Coppice Lane and part of Cannock Road had been closed by the police who swamped the area after the wanted driver had lost control of the car whilst being chased.
One Cannock Road resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I just missed it all because I was out walking the dog. I heard the bang from the other side of the park. If I'd left the house later than I did both me and the dog could have been brown bread.
"When I got back there was a crashed Mini and loads of police and ambulances. One lamppost had been flattened but thankfully it must have taken all the force because the second one was still standing. If that had been knocked over it could have fell into the flats."
The nearby Amery Private Members Club was ordered by the police to close early. Patrons were ordered out of the bar just before 9pm with management apologising to members today with a sign on the notice board.
The cribbage team, who meet every Friday, were forced to abandon their game due to the closure.
One patron said: "No-one was hurt which was the most important thing. Everyone was inside when the crash happened. If it had happened a few hours later when everyone leaves together then it could have been very nasty."
Ben Davies, 19, from Bloxwich, told the Express & Star: "Nothing this exciting has happened round here for years, I always wait for the bus right where it happened. I cannot believe I missed it all. My mum rang me and told me about it.
After knocking down a cyclist in the afternoon and driving off officers across the Black Country were told to look out for a silver Mini Metro. A few hours later the car was spotted and a pursuit began. However, the 17-year-old driver was no match for the trained police drivers and soon lost control on the junction of Coppice Lane and Cannock Road.
He was taken to hospital for treatment and arrested soon after. He remains in custody being questioned concerning charges of wounding with intent.
