Parking trouble reached new heights for one Warrnambool shopper on Friday when a driving mishap caused her car to smash through a tree and over another car in a busy CBD carpark.
The driver, in her 60s, was shaken but unhurt when her Ford Falcon crushed a tree and drove over an unoccupied car parked in the facing bay at the Ozone car park about 9.30am.
Senior Constable Jon Bamford, of Warrnambool police, said it appeared the driver had accidently hit the accelerator instead of the brake while trying to park.
“She has been taken to hospital just for a check-up and there was no drugs or alcohol involved,” he said.
Passers-by were keen to gather around and take photographs of the scene. While the accident no doubt gave them plenty to talk about over Christmas dinner, it meant headaches for the driver of the other car, Marie Mansbridge, who returned to her Toyota Yaris to be confronted with the damage.
“I came back and got a big surprise. It’s not a very good Christmas present,” she said.
The near-new company car was purchased in February.
“The car belongs to Emmanuel College, but it’s a disadvantage to me all the same,” Ms Mansbridge said.
“I am heading off for holidays on Monday and was going to take that car.”
Liam Fitzgerald witnessed the accident from his workplace at the Warrnambool Telstra Shop and said he had never seen anything like it.
“I was looking out the window and I suddenly saw the white car launch into the air and there was a big bang,” he said.
“I literally saw a flying car. It was bizzare.”
Rushing to the scene, Mr Fitzgerald said the driver was more concerned about the state of the other car.
“She said she didn’t know what happened,” he said.
“It’s probably quite lucky that the tree was between them or there probably would have been more damage.”
