A 60-year-old Oldham man was gardening when he heard a bang and saw a car had flipped onto its side in the street – he ran to help the young occupants before one of them pulled out a machete
Two teens have been arrested after a car that had allegedly just been used in a robbery smashed into parked vehicles in broad daylight.
The teenagers were pulled from a smoking car by a 60-year-old local man after it flipped on to its side – before one them reportedly grabbed a machete.
The man was strimming his hedge at around 12pm today on what appeared to be a quiet bank holiday Monday when he heard a ‘bang’ He was horrified as he watched the vehicle as it flipped onto its side after crashing into another car close to his house in Oldham.
Manchester Evening News reported how he immediately ran over to the upturned car to help anyone trapped inside. He said: “I went running and saw somebody was trying to open the car door. There was smoke inside the car and I thought there might have been a fire.
“My first priority was the safety of life. I jumped on the car and helped open the door and held their hand, pulled and said ‘get out, get out quick’. These two young lads came out and I said ‘Is there anyone else in the car?’ I couldn’t see because of the smoke, and they said ‘no’.
“Then I saw one had a big knife in his hand and tried to smash the front windscreen. I said ‘what are you doing?’. They were going in for stuff inside, mobile phones and everything I don’t know. He was bleeding everywhere, his arm was bleeding”.
He claimed the big knife he saw appeared to be a machete and after taking a bag from inside, both teenagers fled. He added: “They were 15 or 16 and bleeding. Then they ran with knives in their hands.”
The resident said the vehicle he helped the pair escape from had crashed into another car parked. He said the store owner came out after seeing the crash but quickly retreated after seeing the ‘machete’ and locked the front door.
In a statement on the incident, police said two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, had been arrested after a car ‘used in a robbery’ smashed into parked vehicles. Both were arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
A spokesperson from the force said: “At 11:39am this morning, we were called to Hollins Road in Oldham, to reports of a road traffic collision where a car collided with several stationary cars. Thankfully, no members of the public were injured.
“It’s believed that the car was involved in a robbery earlier. Emergency services attended, and thanks to information from members of the public at the scene, we were able to swiftly locate two teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, who were arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.”
A cordon was put in place and the road closed off in both directions as forensic officers scoured the scene for evidence. A knife could be seen on the road amid the debris from the crash..
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Shortly after 11.40am today, two fire engines from Oldham and Hollins fire stations, and the Technical Response Unit from Ashton-under-Lyne, were called to attend a road traffic collision involving two cars on Frederick Street, Oldham.
“Crews arrived quickly and worked alongside Greater Manchester Police to make the area safe. Firefighters departed after approximately one hour at the scene.”