‘Miracle’ no-one was killed after car thief causes town rampage

‘Miracle’ no-one was killed after car thief causes town rampage

16 February 2022

TRADERS in Downpatrick say it’s a “miracle” that no one was killed or seriously injured in a terrifying incident in the town centre last week when a stolen car crashed into several vehicles and a shop.

The drama unfolded around 2.30pm when a man attacked a woman in her Volkswagen Golf car at the Meadowlands area.

It’s understood that he smashed the window of the vehicle and attempted to assault the woman who managed to make her escape. 

The stolen car was then driven off, subsequently crashing into three other vehicles in Church Street, including a Renault Kadjar which had stopped at the traffic lights outside the Down Recorder office.

The front and rear of this vehicle was badly damaged while the driver of a car approaching the scene of the accident from Irish Street had to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision with the stolen car.

The vehicle then turned into Market Street and after clipping a kerb, mounted the footpath and careered into McCartan’s shoe shop where it sustained extensive damage at the front.

The vehicle became wedged between the shop and a safety bollard, with the driver scrambling out of the passenger window, falling into the shoe shop before climbing over the damaged bonnet and fleeing the scene.

He was subsequently apprehended in nearby St Patrick’s Avenue and taken to hospital for treatment to suspected leg injuries.

A number of Market Street traders say it is a “miracle” that no one was killed or seriously injured and revealed that one woman walking on the footpath just yards from the shoe shop had a miraculous escape.

“I was in my shop when I heard the crash and when I went outside there was a woman on the footpath who was screeching and clearly very distressed,” said one businessman.

“The car had missed her by inches and if the vehicle had been propelled into the air after hitting the kerb, it would have smashed through the front 

window of the shoe shop. Fortunately, Market Street was relatively quiet at the time of the incident.

“While no one was injured, the consequences could have been horrific as a relatively short time later Market Street would have been full of schoolchildren.”

The stolen Golf also narrowly missed two parked cars close to the shoe shop before it crashed, with reports that a man and young child had also been on the footpath when the incident happened.

“It is only by the grace of God that no one was killed last Thursday afternoon,” said another businessman. 

“It is a miracle that people on the street close to the shoe shop did not get caught up in this incident. The consequences if they had are simply too horrific to contemplate. People were going about their business last week and got caught up in this incident. Shops and cars can be repaired and many are grateful there was not a tragic end to what happened.”

The businessman added: “Given the sequence of events, it is unbelievable that no one was killed.  I have no doubt that the trauma experienced by those who had a narrow escape will stay with them for a long time.”

Police investigating last Thursday’s incident have confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences and issued an appeal for information.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed what happened in Meadowlands, Church Street or Market Street and who may have dashcam footage.

Anyone who believes they can help is asked to contact police using the non-emergency 101 number, quoting reference 953 of 10/02/22. 

Information can also be provided anonymously via the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555111.