Horror crash leaves three in hospital

Three people were injured in a 'terrifying' crash which saw a car smash into a seafront bar in Weymouth.

At lunchtime on Friday, a car mounted pavement and went through the outdoor seating area at the Nook Cocktail Bar on the Esplanade.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and were forced to close part of the road after the car brought down a metal canopy in the outside seating area.

A huge police presence was met with three ambulances, two fire engines and an air ambulance.

READ: Terrifying car crash at Nook bar on Weymouth Esplanade

(Image: DWFRS)

Weymouth beach and the promenade were also closed off whilst paramedics treated the injured before rushing them to hospital - their condition is still unknown.

The RNLI warned people not to enter the water whilst the incident unfolded as lifeguards also raced over to help with the emergency response. They also helped to clear the beach to allow for the air ambulance to land.

The Esplanade was closed from the King's Statue to the pavilion for three hours (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

One eye-witness described the crash as 'terrifying' whilst another said it 'made her feel sick'.

One witness, Steve, was stood at a kiosk opposite the Nook when the car mounted pavement.

He said: "People were sat outside having drinks, I heard a loud bang and I have seen a car go into all of them.

The air ambulance landed on the beach after RNLI lifeguards helped clear the beach (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

"I walked past there moments before it happened, I heard a big crash and lots of screaming and people running from the other side of the road.

"A car mounted the pavement, hit all of the tables and then the railing.

"It was terrifying.

"It is not something that usually happens in Weymouth."

READ: RNLI warn not to enter water after Weymouth seafront crash

A car crashed into the Nook bar on Weymouth Esplanade which prompted a large emergency response (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A neighbouring café owner said she was 'in the middle of it' and praised the emergency services response.

She said: "I walked out the door and heard the smash.

"I just jumped, all I heard was screaming. Everything just happened rather fast.

"It could have been a hell of a lot more than two people.  It has made me feel a bit sick really.

"The response from the emergency services was very quick and organised."

Police said two people injured were pedestrians, while the ambulance service confirmed three were taken to hospital.

The extent of any injuries are not yet known and Dorset Police has been asked for information.

It took around three hours for emergency services to make the area safe and reopen the road after the vehicle was recovered from the scene.

The car was recovered and removed from the scene at around 3.30pm (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

A spokesperson for Dorset police at the time said: "Dorset Police received a report at 12.23pm on Friday 28 June 2024 that a car collided with an outside seating area at The Nook bar on The Esplanade in Weymouth.

"Officers are in attendance with the fire and ambulance services. Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital for treatment.

"The Esplanade has been closed in the area to allow emergency services to safely deal with the incident."

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust  said: “We were called at 12.22pm on Friday, June 28 to an incident in Weymouth.

"We sent three double-crewed land ambulances, an operations officer, a doctor and an air ambulance to the scene and conveyed two patients by land ambulances to Dorset County Hospital and one patient by land ambulance to Weymouth Community Hospital."

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service: "We were called to the Esplanade in Weymouth at 12.24pm today (28 June) after a car collided with a metal canopy.

"Two crews from Weymouth attended and firefighters have secured the canopy and established a safety cordon.

"They have also been supporting colleagues from the other emergency services."