Tractor smashes into 4 parked cars in Tipperary

There were chaotic scenes in a small Tipperary village yesterday morning after a tractor went out of control and smashed into four parked cars before grinding to a stop on top of a small hatchback.

The large 94-reg tractor, which was pulling a full load of grain in a trailer and which is understood to have been driven by a local farmer, lost control at approximately 10.30am on Main St, Ardfinnan.

Locals reported hearing a loud commotion as the drama unfolded. They rushed to the scene to see what was happening and saw the vehicle carnage which had almost blocked off the street.

Emergency services were immediately summoned and rushed to the scene, but it soon became clear that the only damage was to the cars.

One woman said: “It is a miracle that there was no- one in the cars and no-one walking along the street at that time, which is usually quite busy.”

One local, Nigel Carrigan, took to twitter to echo her sentiments: “It’s usually a very busy road. Can’t say enough about how lucky it is no one hurt!”

Pictures which circulated online in the aftermath of the incident showed one of the front wheels of the tractor resting on top of a small silver Citreon and the back wheel sitting on a red car which, in other shots, appeared to have been completely crushed. Another car, a 151-registered Ford, is pictured lying on its side alongside the tractor.

While there was speculation on social media as to what may have caused the tractor to get out of control, gardaí said the matter was still being investigated, including the cause.

A Garda spokesman said the male driver of the tractor, a man in his 60s, was unharmed and that no one else was injured adding that there had been the potential for “very serious injuries”.