CALLER FLEES AS BUS SMASHES PHONES

JESUS ARMY DOUBLE-DECKER GOES OUT OF CONTROL AND DEMOLISHES BOOTHS IN PACKED STREET

Source : 26/12/2000 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Police investigations were continuing today after two phone boxes in Northampton town centre were demolished by an out-of-control Jesus Army bus.

Scores of Christmas shoppers watched in horror as the double-decker bearing the slogan 'Jesus People Loving People', crashed at the top of Abington Street, destroying the two phone boxes and tearing up the pavement.

The religious sect's vehicle came to a stop just before the third phone box and a caller was forced to abandon his conversation and run to safety.

A witness saw the drama unfold as he was unloading a delivery of frozen food from his van.

He said: 'The whole lot just fell to the floor and then someone got out of the bus to inspect the damage. God was certainly not on their side this Christmas.'

The crash happened shortly after 9.30am on Saturday when the bus had drawn up behind the phone boxes for members to begin a day of evangelising.

The driver said: 'We are just glad nobody was hurt.'

Police cordoned off the accident scene and BT was called in to make the area safe.

Another member of the Jesus Army, was walking past the phone boxes when the smash happened.

He said: 'I heard this wrenching crunch and the phone boxes began to fall. I felt one of them brush against my shoulder on the way down.'

'We are all just mercifully glad no-one was hurt in the incident.'

Another witness said: 'I was sitting in my office at the time when I heard this great crashing noise and when I rushed to the window, I could see the bus jerking around on the street. I saw someone escape from one of the phone boxes, but there could have been a serious injury.'

'It's never been sensible for the bus to be parked there anyway as it blocks the route for emergency vehicles.'

A police officer said their main concern was the electricity shooting through the damaged wires in the phone boxes.

He said: 'It was a dangerous scene and BT was called to make it safe.'