Lucky escape for customers and staff as van smashes into Wigan chemists

There were several customers and staff in WA Salter Chemists, in Ince Green Lane, Ince at the time of the smash, but luckily none of them were hurt.

The incident involving the van and a pick-up truck happened at around 11.30am today (March 23).

It saw the van go into a roller shutter that was covering part of the chemists and smash a window.

A man in his 50s, the driver of the van was taken to Wigan Infirmary suffering from shock and cuts to his body. The driver of the pick-up truck escaped unharmed.

Mark Anderson, watch manager at Hindley fire station, said it had been fortunate that nobody was seriously hurt.

He said: "We were called to the RTC involving a pick-up truck and a van in Ince Green Lane, Ince, at around 11.30am today.

"The van went into the roller shutter on a part of the chemists which then smashed one of the windows.

"But it's fortunate that it had hit the shutter as otherwise it would have gone right through and injured staff and customers or worse. Nobody in the shop was injured and they escaped uninjured.

"The driver of the van, a man in his 50s, suffered cuts and shock and was taken to Wigan Infirmary while the driver of the pick-up truck had no injuries."

Mr Anderson said the driver of the van had been helped out of his vehicle by some workmen who smashed a window before fire crews arrived.

He added: "We stayed with police to make scene safe and waited for ambulance crews to arrive.

"We also had to put a road closure in place for around 45 minutes."

"This really could have been a lot worse."