Lucky escape for pedestrians after high-speed chase

SHOPPERS on a busy city centre street in Limerick had a narrow escape yesterday when a high-speed chase ended in dramatic circumstances.

Gardaí were pursuing a car which turned into William Street at around 4.30pm.

Hundreds of people were on the street at the time. The car went out of control and ended up near a footpath having crashed into a pole.

Martin O’Connor, 34, who runs a business in William Street, witnessed the crash. “I heard sirens and looked out. The street was very busy. I saw this yellow car speeding up near Boots Chemist and there was a garda squad car behind it. The yellow car seemed to hit the kerb, burst its tyres and then ended up hitting a pole.

“Then the gardaí went over to the car and, as the driver got out of the yellow car, he was arrested and taken away.”

William Street was cordoned off for a period as Garda investigators examined the scene.

Mr O’Connor said: “This time on Friday is one of the busiest times of the week on William Street and its a miracle nobody was killed. When I saw the car speeding and going out of control I said to myself: ‘Oh my God’.”

Gardaí at Henry Street were last night questioning a man arrested at the scene.