Car crash suspect arrested by police in riot gear

A DRINK-DRIVER who hit a parked van sending it smashing into a house in Courtwick Road, Littlehampton, on Saturday afternoon, sparked a major manhunt.

It happened when he escaped from police custody at Worthing Hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries.

The man scaled a seven-foot fence near the hospital to go on the run from teams of police in riot-gear with sniffer dogs and the police helicopter, which spent half an hour hovering over houses searching for him.

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He was darting between back gardens, alleyways and bushes and when he was eventually caught, just before 8pm, he was so violent that police had to restrain him.

Four hours earlier, the man is alleged to have been driving a red Peugeot when he crashed into the parked Southern Water van, which then bounced off a car and smashed into the house belonging to pensioner Florence Kerr, 85.

She was sitting in the living room with her son, John Howson, and his partner May Willson.

Mr Howson said: "We heard an almighty bang. It was lucky nobody was walking past and got run over.

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"The police called a structural engineer to make sure the house was safe to stay in and he said it was OK."

Mrs Kerr said: "I'm 85 and it shook me up a bit. My son had to miss a night of work to stay home and look after me.

"The police were brilliant, especially WPC Shooter. They were very quick to respond and could not help enough. They have been very supportive."

Mrs Willson, whose car was badly damaged in the incident, said: "We're waiting on the insurance company to see what will happen. It looks like all three cars were written off."

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After hitting the house, the driver ran off and was eventually found in Clun Road, where he assaulted two police officers before being arrested.

He was taken to Worthing Hospital for treatment to his "minor" injuries where he escaped.

Police spokeswoman Jill Pedersen said a 31-year-old Chichester man had been released on police bail.

She said: "A man was arrested for failing to stop at the scene of an accident and being over the limit. He was taken into custody and then transferred to hospital for treatment.

When he was at hospital he ran out a door, through the car park and scaled a fence. We chased after him but one of our officers was injured."