Hit & Run and dramatic chase

Swanbach farmer, Norman Huntbach, was last night (soon after 8.00pm) hit by a car driven by three thieves trying to steal a fork-lift tractor. Norman, aged 49, is currently in hospital awaiting an operation on a deep wound on his knee.

The thieves were later chased by police and after their car crashed and rolled over near Baldwins Gate, one was found dead and another seriously injured.

The drama began while a dinner party was taking place at the Swanbach farm just outside Audlem. Looking out of the window, Norman saw unknown men arrive in a maroon Corsa car in the yard. As he went outside to find out what they wanted, he found them attempting to steal the 1.5 tonne fork-lift.

He raced towards them, they leapt into their getaway car and the thieves ran him down causing injuries to his knee, arm and foot. It is reported that the thieves were laughing when they hit him.

Despite his injuries, he managed to note the car model and registration number and the police were called as well as an ambulance. Unfortunately, the ambulance failed to turn up within thirty minutes so his wife drove him to Leighton.

In the meantime, the thieves' car was reported to have headed off to Adderley and Norton in Hales where two further break-ins were attempted. At the second incident, the thieves were again apprehended by the property owners and chased initially by the residents and then also police who picked them up at Blackbrook near the A51/A53 junction.

The police chased after the thieves' car to Baldwins Gate where it then hit another vehicle, turned over on its roof causing one fatality and a serious injury and slight injuries to a third man in the car.

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