Women walk away in 100ft cliff plunge
Aug 21 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
A WOMAN was arrested after a car crashed through a fence and 100ft down a cliff. The 33-year-old driver and three friends had a miraculous escape, all emerging from the wreckage unhurt.
But police later arrested the woman on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
She was driving three female friends along Percy Gardens, in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, at about 12.15am yesterday when the car veered off the road and tumbled down the cliff, landing on its wheels in a disused swimming pool among the rocks.
The group, aged between 32 and 34 and from the Blyth and Seaton Delaval areas of Northumberland, were travelling in a Nissan Note.
Watch manager Ken Corbett, based at Tynemouth Fire Station, said: “The women had no injuries, which is unbelievable after what happened to them.”
Police sergeant Ed Small said: “The car went through the barrier and rolled down the embankment and landed on its wheels in the rock pool below. The tide was out and the women got out of the vehicle and were checked over at the scene by paramedics. They are four lucky ladies.”
Elizabeth McDonough, 47, of Percy Gardens, woke up to see the broken barrier taped off.
She said: “It is a miracle that these four women walked away from the car.
“I moved here two years ago and this is the fifth crash I’ve seen on this corner. I’m surprised no one has been killed.”
Mum-of-two Linda Jones, 53, also of Percy Gardens, said: “We heard noises earlier this morning and saw the police, ambulance and fire brigade. These women are so lucky.”
The car was taken away to be examined by the police.
Passer-by Garry Stafford, 42, a joiner, of Walker, Newcastle, said: “It is mind-blowing how they walked away from that. It is like something from The Dukes of Hazzard.
“These women should put the lottery on today. If they survived that, they must have loads of luck.”
A Coastguard spokesman said: “We received a request for assistance from the police.
“It is understood a vehicle failed to negotiate a bend in the road and went straight over.
“The people in the car were very lucky not to have been more seriously hurt.”
