Tying shoelaces may have saved her life

‘PURE BEDLAM': This was the scene this morning outside Patricia and Anton Delegat's home after a car crashed through their concrete fence and part of their neighbour's property last night. Picture by Liam Clayton

A woman was seconds from being hit by an out-of-control car which crashed through fences of two Rutene Road properties last night.

Residents along Rutene Road, just past the Tyndall Road turn-off, heard a “horrific bang” at around 9.15pm.

An owner of one of the properties said his friend had just left his house when the crash happened right in front of her.

“She was tying her shoelaces and was about to walk that way. It narrowly missed her car, which was where she was heading.

“She was very close to being fatally hurt. We are counting our lucky stars this morning.

“I went to go and help the person in the car but they had already got out and sprinted away.

“I saw the back of them. They were very keen to leave. Then I saw oil or petrol dripping from underneath the car and asked my friend to call 111.”

Next door neighbours Patricia and Anton Delegat were watching television when they got “a bloody fright” after they heard “a horrific bang”.

“It was pure bedlam,” Patricia said.

Half of their concrete fence was demolished by the force of the crash which sent bits of concrete blocks into the bottom of their house.

Pieces of car and fence littered both properties this morning and power was still off for some Rutene Road residents. It was expected to be back on before lunchtime.

Patricia said they were so shocked by the incident they didn‘t get a wink of sleep.

“Evidently he only got the car a couple of days ago. The lady next door heard him say ‘this is the second time this has happened' before he ran away.”

Emergency services were called to the scene but by that time the driver of the car had fled.

Police who attended, including a dog team, conducted an area search for the driver without success.

“Inquiries are ongoing to locate the driver,” they said.