Innocent teenager hurt as burglars getaway car crashes in Solihull

Apr 16 2008 By Leda Reynolds

A TEENAGE girl was seriously injured when a burglary gang smashed their stolen getaway car head-on into her friend's vehicle.

The "despicable" raiders were fleeing the scene of a burglary when they ploughed a high powered Saab into the 15-year-old girl's car.

The schoolgirl was this afternoon seriously ill at Birmingham Children's Hospital following the crash in Solihull shortly after 10pm yesterday.

The drama unfolded when a neighbour called police after spotting a group of men acting suspiciously at a house in Lode Lane.

Police arrived and found the raiders inside the house and chased them through the building before the gang vaulted a fence on to the driveway of a neighbouring dental practice to the waiting Saab.

A second police car which had parked across the drive was rammed repeatedly by the gang, wrecking the vehicle before the Saab roared away.

But the getaway driver collided with a Ford Fiesta at the junction of Moat Lane and Lode Lane, sending the smaller car into a lamp-post.

The men then fled on foot through the grounds of Lode Heath School, leaving the injured teenager and her 25-year-old girl friend to be rescued by emergency crews.

Det Insp Iain Grant, of Solihull CID, said the girl suffered serious injuries in the crash and she remains in a serious condition in hospital.

"This was a despicable incident that could have resulted in the death of innocent members of the public," he said.

Mr Grant said the Saab, which was not being followed by police at the time of the crash, was stolen from Mill Lane, Dorridge, on March 8.

Call Solihull CID on 0845 1135000 if you can help.