'Miraculous' escape as car crashes into pub

The owner of a pub has described it as a "miracle" that nobody was seriously hurt after a car smashed into the building.

Ted Docherty, who manages The Little Angel on Remenham Lane in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, said the incident occurred around 18:45 GMT on Sunday. The vehicle collided with the rear wall of the 16th-century pub, sending kitchen equipment and debris flying while five chefs were finishing dinner service.

Thames Valley Police reported that one person sustained minor injuries. No arrests have been made so far, and officers are asking witnesses to come forward as the car left the scene.

Mr. Docherty said he was heading home when he rushed back upon hearing the crash. "The chefs initially thought there had been an explosion, and then they feared the wall had collapsed," he explained. Many patrons also assumed an explosion had occurred. He described how heavy kitchen equipment had been tossed from one end of the room to the other. "If someone had been caught in between, it could have been much worse," he added.

He noted that a few staff members suffered minor bruises, but it was truly remarkable that no serious injuries occurred.

Initially concerned the pub might need to close for an extended period, Mr. Docherty said the kitchen was operational again by 18:00 the following day. He praised the coordinated effort of the pub's freeholders, Brakspear, and the construction firm Turvey's, who built a temporary stud wall to restore kitchen functionality.

"The kitchen could resume normal operations while repairs continued on the other side of the wall without disruption," he said.

When asked about repair costs, Mr. Docherty admitted he had not yet thought about them, expressing hope that the driver would be caught so expenses could be covered by insurance rather than the pub. "In the face of adversity, some people give up, but we had no choice. Our staff depend on this business, so reopening quickly was essential," he added.

Author: Jackson Miller