A father whose child was injured when a car crashed into a nursery playground in Ellesmere Port has praised staff for their 'incredible' response during the terrifying incident.
Crash at Sunny Days Nursery
Emergency services were called to Sunny Days Nursery on Vale Road at around 9.54am on Monday, June 15, after a car was driven through a fence and into the outdoor play area. A two-year-old boy suffered injuries believed to be serious and was taken to hospital. Two other children sustained minor injuries.
Father's Experience
The parent of one of the injured children said he 'feared the worst' after receiving a frantic phone call from his partner while at work. He told the Liverpool Echo: '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.'
Fortunately, his child escaped with minor injuries after being checked by paramedics and was later taken to hospital as a precaution. He said: 'Thankfully, they were OK. But it's more a question of what if. It's incredible that more kids weren't seriously injured.'
Staff Response Praised
The father said nursery staff immediately sprang into action, ensuring every child was safe. He added: '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.'
He also praised the nursery manager for coordinating the response alongside emergency services, saying: 'The manager was supporting paramedics, looking at CCTV and doing exactly what she should have done. I can't fault the response.'
Emergency Services Commended
The parent also commended the emergency crews: 'The emergency services were spot on. The paramedics were really good with the kids and so positive when it could have been a lot more negative.'
He added: 'I've been upset by it all but I'm just made up that the nursery I've sent my child to is a nursery that can deal with unbelievably bad circumstances. People can fall apart in situations like this. But they held it together.'
Police Investigation
Cheshire Police said a 63-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.
Nursery Statement
A spokesperson for Partou UK, which operates Sunny Days Nursery, said: '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.'
