Police have provided an update following a car crash into the front of a nursery. Emergency services were called to Sunny Days Nursery on Vale Road in Ellesmere Port at approximately 9.54am yesterday (Monday, June 15) after a vehicle ploughed through a fence and into the outdoor play area.
Initially, Cheshire Police reported that a two-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with what were thought to be serious injuries, with two other children also sustaining minor injuries in the incident. A 63-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in the aftermath of the incident.
However, the force later stated that evening that the boy's injuries were "not as serious as first thought". A spokesperson for Cheshire Police informed the ECHO today that the boy stayed in hospital overnight as a precautionary measure.
The woman who was arrested has been released under investigation pending further enquiries, reports the Liverpool Echo.
A spokesperson for Partou UK, which runs Sunny Days Nursery, confirmed yesterday: "We can confirm that an incident occurred today at our Sunny Days Nursery setting in Ellesmere Port involving a vehicle entering an outdoor play area."
"This is an extremely distressing incident and our immediate focus is supporting the children affected, their families and our colleagues at the nursery."
"Three children were injured. Two sustained minor injuries and one child is receiving medical treatment. We are in contact with the families involved and are doing everything we can to support them during this extremely difficult time."
"Emergency services attended the scene and we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities as they carry out their investigations."
"As this is an ongoing incident and active police investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time. Our thoughts are with the children and families affected."
One father, whose child was hurt in the incident, shared with the ECHO on-site about his initial fears following the event. He said: "My partner rang me and told me what had happened. I ran around straight away and there was police and ambulances everywhere. It was a chaotic scene."
"Police checked who I was and let me through the cordon. It was unbelievably bad. I still feel a little bit sick now. My partner had rung me and told me the kids were being looked at by paramedics. You just think the worst."
Luckily, his child managed to escape with only minor injuries after being examined by paramedics and was later taken to hospital as a precaution.
The dad praised the nursery staff for their immediate response, ensuring every child was safe and accounted for.
He stated: "The staff were just exactly where they needed to be, making sure the kids were all OK. I walked in and they were on me straight away, got me to the right place and were giving people hugs where needed."
"They were doing exactly what you'd expect them to do in what I can only imagine is such a stressful situation. You don't prepare for that sort of thing to happen."
