Drinkers leapt for their lives as car headed for pub

0 Chairs scattered round the BMW outside the Cask and Barrel in Broughton Street, Edinburgh Drinkers were forced to leap for their lives when a car ploughed towards them outside a pub.

The blue BMW smashed through railings at around 3:15pm yesterday, narrowly avoiding the Cask and Barrel on Broughton Street, Edinburgh.

Eye witnesses said it was a “miracle” that no one was hurt. Only 15 minutes earlier people had been sitting outside before the sky clouded over.

The male driver, believed to be in his 20s, was questioned by police while one passenger is said to have fled the scene.

Electrician David Sutherland, 53, was standing outside the pub with a friend and was forced to leap out of the way of the oncoming vehicle.

Mr Sutherland said: “The car was going fast and it looked like it had lost control because you could hear the screeching of the tyres.

“He comes off the roundabout and then ends up doing a 180 spin and is coming straight for me. I was lucky to have jumped out of the way otherwise it could have ended a lot worse.”

He added: “There’s usually plenty of people sat outside where the car crashed but thankfully the clouds had come over around 15 minutes before. People were saved by the clouds.”

The pub remained open as usual as officers cordoned off the area and conducted inquiries into the incident. Former deputy Lord Provost Steve Cardownie said: “I was inside having a pint when I heard this huge crash which made me jump out of my seat. I didn’t realise it was that close to the pub. It is a miracle that there was not a tragedy here. That outside area is usually mobbed with people. There was a young family who were about ten yards further up the road when it happened so they were incredibly lucky.”

The manager of the Cask and Barrel said it was “very lucky” there were no injuries.

Police remained in attendance until the BMW, which is believed to be a rental car, was recovered.