Diners cut by flying glass in freak pub crash
TWO people were left bloodied and dazed while fellow diners fled in panic at a pub restaurant following a freak crash.
A caravanette, driven by a man understood to be in his 90s, twice crashed into the Saddler’s Arms in Lympstone. After hitting the pub at a speed of around 30mph, onlookers say the “confused” man drove his vehicle from the scene, only to hit the pub again moments later at an even greater speed.
Witnesses to the incident, which occurred shortly after 6pm yesterday, described the panic as the man, who is understood to be diabetic and holidaying in Devon from Oldham in Lancashire, hit the pub’s restaurant which is at the rear of the building in a conservatory.
The man, who is also understood to have one leg, first drove into glass doors, sending tables, chairs and glass flying in the restaurant.
He then reversed on to the A376 before picking up speed and colliding with the restaurant again.
Waiter George Stone, 18, from Lympstone, said: “There were around 20 people in the restaurant area when the caravanette first ploughed in through the glass doors.
“A woman aged around 50 and her husband were hit by flying glass. The woman had blood on her face and her husband had leg injuries.
“Everyone fled the restaurant and then the driver crashed a second time.
“He was aged around 90 and only had one leg. He seemed very confused.”
Onlooker Stephen Jones, 45, from Exmouth, said: “When the man drove into the restaurant a second time I had to dive out of the way to prevent him from running me down.
“He hit the building at around 30mph the first time and must have been travelling at 50mph on the second go. He told me he was a diabetic and I saw a blue disabled badge in his vehicle. He seemed to be alone.
“He kept saying he needed to get back to Oldham as quickly as possible.”
Another onlooker, Steve Malyan, 42, of Sidmouth, said: “We heard a loud bang and the restaurant had around four smashed windows.”
The driver, and the two diners, were taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Their injuries are not understood to be life threatening.
Jo Borrie, who runs the pub with husband Gary, said: “Luckily, not more people were in the restaurant when the vehicle struck. It can hold up to 50. A large part of the conservatory has been demolished and we are absolutely devastated.”
She added that it was impossible to say at this stage how much repairs would cost as the damage had not been fully assessed.
A police spokesman said: “We received reports that an elderly man had driven his Toyota caravanette into the pub yesterday afternoon.
“He is not a local man. We believe he suffered a medical-related episode which may have been a factor in the incident.”
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by Chris, Exonian ex pat, Limassol, Cyprus
Saturday, September 26 2009, 1:48PM
“I never thought the service at the Saddlers was THAT bad.....”
by Neil, Exeter
Saturday, September 26 2009, 1:10PM
“Brin - I think the main issue here is that you assume that there was a decision to be made! This relies on the patient a) showing up at the doctor and b) saying 'can I drive?' - neither of which may have happened! GPs can only do so much and there is a long legal pathway regarding patients and medical conditions and driving. See - http://www.gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=x20060311201252796890&linkID=69128&cook=yes”
by brin, exeter
Friday, September 25 2009, 5:01PM
“Well said PS,exeter, the responsibility for letting drivers such as those you talk about and the incident at the Saddlers arms should be with the drivers doctor if the person has a medical condition or is elderly. I am afraid once again this exposes the fact that our GPs are now too busy to make an informed decision. I reckon the GPs are also often more concerned with not offending the person wanting to drive. Although according to laura,london the driver seemed insane in which case there are psycologists who should have been involved in the decision, perhaps? The roads are unrecognisable to those of 50+ years ago when most of these drivers took their test/learnt to drive. Changes are needed as the populations age increases.”
by PS, Exeter
Friday, September 25 2009, 12:33PM
“Some years ago i was summoned to assist an old chap who drove his Rolls Royce out of a pub car park, not by the entrance but over the grass & down a 2 foot drop onto the road, then back in through the entrance into the carpark. He could barely walk unaided across the car park to his car because of a light wind. He carried on driving & sure enough he killed both himself & wife driving over the edge of cliff because he couldnt control his vehicle properly. I attend lots of vehicles broken down for one reason or other & i shudder sometimes when i see some aged owners getting behind the wheel for their one shopping trip a week. I also see plenty of quite capable old drivers who not only dont look their age but also drive very well. Im afraid its always going to be down to the driver in whether they give up or not at a sensible time & most of the time the licence is only taken away after incidents similar to this. I think we should all just accept that if one of them injures or kills us then its just our bad luck our numbers up. The free bus pass has taken loads of drivers off the road so be thankful for that as it has decreased your chances of getting hit.”
by J, Devon
Friday, September 25 2009, 11:40AM
“"We believe he suffered a medical-related episode which may have been a factor in the incident"
That could happen at any age!”
by Laura, London
Friday, September 25 2009, 11:12AM
“My parents were sat next to the window at the time, luckily unhurt but very shocked. They said the guy had a look of determination on his face. How could it be medical if he reversed and drove straight back in again? While the police were talking to him he was laughing an joking about the incident. I hope he realises the extent of his actions, two poor women had faces fully of glass and had my parents been two foot closer to the window they would not be with us now.”
by Ruth Daniells, Coldridge
Friday, September 25 2009, 10:06AM
“Not sure why having only one leg is relevent - obviously has to be an automatic vehicle!”
by Will, exeter
Friday, September 25 2009, 10:02AM
“Maybe an opportunity for a driver-through carvery on this site?”
by Keith, Exeter
Friday, September 25 2009, 9:52AM
“So he was lost as well...
Shocking!!”
by V P DART, STICKLEPATH
Friday, September 25 2009, 9:37AM
“not unless Oldham has a winslade pk”