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Drive-through horror
A CAR veered across a dual carriageway in rush-hour traffic today, smashing through a fence before slamming into a packed McDonald's restaurant.
Customers looked on in horror as the Mitsubishi Shogun demolished the wall of the fast food outlet, just a few feet from where they were sitting.
The huge 4x4 was travelling along the busy Stockton Road at 8.30am when it somehow lost control, mounting the barricade separating the opposite carriageway into the path of oncoming vehicles.
It miraculously avoided a collision before smashing through hedges, a fence and clipping a Nissan Micra before hitting the wall of the McDonald's on Burn Road.
One witness described the moment he saw the horror smash and ran to the aid of the stricken elderly driver, who is believed to have had a seizure at the scene.
He was rushed to North Tees Hospital while the restaurant was evacuated and onlookers were left in shock.
Two appliances and the emergency tender from Stranton Fire Station were called to the scene.
Watch Manager Jason Wood said: "It seems an elderly man in his 60s has had some kind of fit or seizure.
"He has come off the dual carriageway, gone through a fence, hit a parked car and then went into McDonald's.
"We got the driver out and made the area safe. It seems it has caused structural damage to the building."
Russell Wanley, 54, a self-employed motor mechanic from Cornwall Street, was sat in the car park having his breakfast when the chaos erupted.
He said: "I heard loads of horns then saw the big 4x4 crash through the fence and hit McDonald's.
"I ran over and switched his engine off because his foot was still flat down on the pedal.
"He was alive but he looked out of it and in a really bad way.
"It's lucky no-one else was hurt. A lot of people had a lucky escape."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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