A pensioner who crashed his 4x4 into a fish and chip has surrendered his driving licence before he was due in court in connection with the accident.
The 83-year-old man had been reported for summons for driving without due care and attention in relation to the collision at Acklam Fish Bar last year.
But Cleveland Police has since confirmed he had given up his licence to drive and will therefore not be appearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
The crash at the fish shop happened at about 4.20pm on September 24 and involved a black Range Rover Evoque which hit a gas main and destroyed the front window of the shop.
Two Acklam Grange School pupils, who were inside when the accident happened, were treated for minor cuts. The driver was not believed to have been injured.
Two staff members and two other adults were also inside the shop at the time.
One witness, a member of staff at Acklam Post Office/Bargain Booze, two doors down from the fish bar, told the Gazette: “It sounded like a bomb going off, everything shook.”
Dozens of shop workers were evacuated as a result and a police cordon set up around the perimeter of the shops while police, fire crews and gas workers worked to safely remove the car.
Neighbouring shops were later allowed to reopen. However Acklam Fish Bar remained closed for several days for repairs.
The owner, Rafi Khan, told the Gazette that the community had been very supportive.
“We’d rather it hadn’t happened, obviously, but since it has we’ve used it as an excuse to spruce the place up a bit with some new menu boards and things.”
One member of staff there on the day was Elaine Campbell. She said: “It was terrifying. I saw he’d hit the gas and I just ran to be honest. I was sure we were going up.
“The other girl who was here was on the ball and switched the range and everything off and rang the emergency services.”
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “The driver of the vehicle surrendered his driving licence to the DVLA and therefore he will not appear at court in relation to the incident.”
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