UPDATE: |’I just heard a big bang’: Neighbours’ shock after unmarked police car left ‘planted’ on pub after horror crash with ‘stolen’ car News

‘It’s a bit of a shock to have something like that happen so close’

An unmarked police car was left ‘planted’ in the front of a well-known east Manchester pub following a horror crash that left a police officer seriously injured.

The smash happened on one of the city’s busiest roads, Hyde Road in Gorton, just before 4am in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday, April 22).

Officers first received reports of a car being stolen in Lancashire Hill area of Stockport at around 3.30am. A high-speed pursuit began around 10 minutes later.

Greater Manchester Police said the driver ran a series of red lights and reached speeds of up to 110mph in the moments before the collision.

He smashed into an unmarked GMP vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, near The Plough pub, at around 3.55pm.

The car is then said to have hit the front of the pub. Neighbours reported hearing a loud bang before seeing emergency services descend on the area.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said two men were taken to hospital following the incident.

One of them was a police officer, who has ‘serious’ injuries to his arms and legs, GMP have said.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol, drug driving and taking a vehicle without consent.

The road was closed for several hours whilst police dealt with the aftermath and carried out enquiries.

Neighbours woke to a huge police cordon. A black coloured car could be seen to have ended up against the front of the pub.

GMP have confirmed that was the police vehicle. The road fully reopened around 11am, but one liveried police car remained

Those living nearby have spoken of their shock at what happened.

Shopkeeper Ba Chan, 64, said: “I just heard a big bang.

“I looked out and all saw the police and the road was blocked off. I asked what had happened, and they just said it was an accident.

“One of the cars was touching the front of the pub. They’ve taken it away now.”

A man who lives nearby said: “The first thing I saw was all the white tape from the cordon. I hope the police officer is okay, and their injuries aren’t too bad.

“The black car was planted in the front of the pub.

“I saw it being towed away, and its wheels were all bent and its front was really badly smashed up. It must have hit it with some force.

“It’s uncommon to have crashes here, although not always involving the police.

“We had a car come off the road and hit the tree in front of us once. There was another one towed away near the entrance to the pub car park.”

A neighbour said: “I didn’t hear it as I was well asleep by then, but my son rang me this morning and said there had been a police chase crash and it was all taped off.

“We have had one big crash here before, but it’s still a bit of a shock to have something like that happen so close. I hope the officer is okay.”

Chief Inspector Michael Parker, of GMP’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Our drivers are highly qualified and undertake regular and rigorous training.

“However, this incident shows the dangers they face each and every day to keep our roads safe.”

Anyone who saw the incident or has dashcam or doorbell footage is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 292 of April 22, 2025.

Details can also be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.