A Manchester business owner has recounted a moment of sheer terror after a car careered off the road and smashed directly into her salon as she was closing for the evening.
Miraculous Escape from Shattered Glass
Ndeye Sarr, 50, the owner of Dixa Hair and Beauty on Hyde Road in Gorton, was inside her premises at around 6pm on Thursday, January 8, when the shocking incident occurred. The force of the impact sent a shower of glass flying across the interior of the shop.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Ms Sarr described suddenly hearing a "big massive noise". "I closed my eyes after I saw lots of glass coming, I covered my eyes with my hands," she said. "Lots of glass went on me and her as well."
A Fateful Decision That Saved a Life
In a remarkable twist of fate, the incident could have been even more tragic. Ms Sarr revealed that a female staff member had been waiting for a bus directly outside the salon just moments before the crash. Concerned about the cold, Ms Sarr had called the worker back inside to wait, a decision that likely saved her from being struck.
Despite being covered in broken glass, both women miraculously avoided serious harm. Ms Sarr sustained cuts to her hands and was taken to A&E as a precaution, where she remained until 1.30am. "It was bleeding. I didn't feel the pain, I was in shock at the time," she explained. "I just noticed the blood was coming out of my hand." Medical staff confirmed no glass fragments were embedded in her wounds.
Aftermath and Ongoing Recovery
The shock of the event left Ms Sarr, who has run the salon for six years, struggling to speak to police officers immediately afterwards. Hyde Road was closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the scene of the serious road traffic collision.
Ms Sarr has since reopened her business, welcoming back supportive customers, but is still dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath. "I have a headache, I'm taking painkillers. I'm feeling a little bit tired, I think it's the stress," she admitted. She now faces the daunting task of repairing her shop, fearing the costs could run into thousands of pounds.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a 21-year-old man was detained at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, and driving without a licence. The investigation into the precise circumstances of the crash is ongoing.
