Gas leak fears after car smashes into shop front

ACCIDENT: ‘Miracle’ no one was killed as vehicle careers on to pavement and becomes lodged in Perth barber’s window

A Perth businessman said it was “a miracle” no one was killed after a car mounted the pavement and demolished his shop front yesterday afternoon.

The grey Nissan X-Trail careered across County Place before ending up wedged in the window of Archie’s Barbers.

Shocked Erkan Tas, 35, was inside his shop when he saw the car heading straight towards him before smashing through the plate glass and knocking down brick work.

Fears that a gas pipe had been ruptured had to be investigated before the street could be reopened.

Fortunately there were no pedestrians outside the shop at the time.

“It could have been a lot worse,” said Mr Tas.

The driver, who may have had some sort of seizure at the wheel, was treated by ambulance personnel at the scene before being removed to hospital by ambulance.

If anyone had been in the path of the vehicle they would have been killed instantly

A Perth barber escaped injury in a dramatic accident after a car mounted the pavement and smashed through the window of his business.

A grey Nissan X-Trail careered across County Place before ending up wedged in the window of Archie’s Barbers.

The shop front was badly damaged and police kept people away from the scene and evacuated nearby premises after it was feared that a gas pipe might have been ruptured.

Barber Erkan Tas, 35, was in the premises when the accident happened at about 3.20pm yesterday.

“I was inside and looked out of the window and saw this car coming towards me,” he said.

“The driver appeared to be shaking and there was a big noise when he crashed into the barbers.”

Mr Tas, who was left shocked by the near miss, said it was fortunate that no one had been on the pavement at the time.

It is understood that the driver may have been taken unwell before the accident.

He was trapped in his vehicle and two units from Scottish Fire and Rescue attended and were involved in freeing him.

The man was treated by ambulance personnel at the scene before being removed to hospital by ambulance. The extent of his injuries is not known.

County Place was closed off during the incident and possible damage to the gas supply had to be investigated as there was a meter to the rear of the damaged shop front.

Businesses on County Place, including the adjacent Robert Burns Lounge, were evacuated while the incident was dealt with.

Large crowds gathered while the car was removed and debris cleared from the scene but were kept back by police officers.

Traffic was diverted away from the accident, causing some tailbacks.

Fortunately there had been no pedestrians passing the barbers at the time.

“If anyone had been in the path of the vehicle they would have been killed instantly,” said James Jenkins, 32, from Scone.

“It was only a few minutes before that I had passed that way.”

Picture: Craig Stephen. The driver was freed from his vehicle, treated at the scene and taken to hospital.

Top: emergency crews at the scene of the accident in County Place. Above: Erkan Tas was working in the shop when the vehicle mounted the pavement and careered through the window.