A DAY after a freedom of information request by The Mirror revealed police are responsible for more than nine road smashes every day, an eyewitness captured this crash in Fearnhead.

Steve Medley, aged 30, had been stuck in heavy traffic along Fearnhead Lane when he saw the police car, which still had its emergency lights flashing, had been in collision with a red Ford Ka at the traffic lights by Blackbrook Avenue and Hilden Road at around 1.25pm on Tuesday.

Mr Medley said: “The driver of the Ka was taken away in an ambulance and the policeman was treated by paramedics.

“Other officers surrounded the crash with police vehicles so the passing public couldn’t see that a police car was involved even though its side was smashed in and all the lights were still going. It must have been trying to attend an emergency call.”

Both drivers had minor injuries to their necks and bruising.

It is not known which driver caused the crash and a police investigation is under way.

The officer had been attending another accident at the Oakgate service station in Birchwood involving two cars which resulted in the occupants suffering minor injuries.

Moments later a bus was also in with two cars on Fearnhead Lane although nobody was injuried.