Six hurt in 999 police van crash

Six people were injured when a police van crashed through their front garden into them in Greater Manchester.

The six were standing in the garden of the house on Ashby Close in Farnworth when the crash happened on Friday.

A 21-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering bruising and chest pains and the others suffered minor injuries.

The police officer, who was responding to a 999 call, has been suspended from driving police vehicles while Greater Manchester Police investigate.

The officer had been responding to reports of a domestic incident in Brentwood Drive, Farnworth, just after 2000 GMT when the van collided with a Citroen ZX, being driven by a 30-year-old man.

Police said the van then mounted the kerb and went into an unfenced front garden where it collided with six pedestrians.

The van also hit the household's Vauxhall Astra parked outside.

The police driver was treated at the scene for shock, an eight-year-old boy suffered minor bruising, three men, aged 29, 27, 21 and a 38-year-old woman also sustained minor injuries.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is urged to contact police.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7184656.stm