Bristol bar owner speaks of ‘nightmare’ crash where flying car wheel smashed window

The owner of a Bristol bar has spoken about the early morning accident that resulted in a car wheel flying off and hitting the window of his business.

Alan of Avana Lounge on Gloucester Road said police called him at just after 5.30am this morning (November 14) to report a collision outside his hookah bar.

A car had careered through a number of concrete bollards outside the adjacent Sainsbury’s store, hit a lamppost and collided with a parked lorry outside Avana Lounge.

The car flipped over and ended up on its roof close to the pavement outside the bar. The car almost hit the front wall of the bar’s outdoor terrace and its wheel hit the window, smashing the glass.

Avana Lounge has had to close temporarily while the window is fixed and the insurance company assess the damage.

Owner Alan said: “After the police phoned me, I was there by 6am and the driver had already been arrested.

“When they phoned I was thinking maybe it was a small accident outside the shop but when I arrived I couldn’t believe it, it was like a nightmare and the kind of thing I’ve only seen in movies.

“It was unbelievable that the wheel had come off and was almost inside the shop. It must have been travelling fast as it damaged the bollards by Sainsbury’s - they were knocked out of the ground and then the car hit the corner of the wall outside my bar.

“It was just a good thing it was 5am and nobody was around. It’s usually a very busy road and pavement and when we are open, customers sit outside for their drinks and hookahs. It’s amazing that nobody was injured.”

Avon and Somerset Police said ‘significant damage’ was done to the vehicle during the collision and the road was closed for a period of time while officers attended.

The driver, a man in his 20s, was been arrested and later received treatment in hospital.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of drink and drugs.”