Driverless police car hit telegraph pole before landing on its roof

A driverless police car overturned in a residential area with an eye-witness claiming it was being chased by a frantic officer. Residents were perplexed to see the police car on its roof outside a house in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, on Monday.



An eye-witness said he saw an "empty police car" travelling down the hill which connected with a telegraph pole and flipped over - being chased down the street by a policeman moments later. It is believed the handbrake had snapped or was not put on properly - and other police vehicles attended the incident and later installed a cordon.

Describing the incident, a man in his 30's who lives on the street, said: "Moments after it crashed into the post I saw a police officer frantically running after it. He looked really shocked. The car didn't have a driver in and no one was hurt - but it could have been much worse." It is thought the vehicle had rolled down the gradient and collided with the kerb and telegraph pole which made it flip onto its roof.



A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "At about 11.20am, it is reported that the car travelled a short distance down Carlton Road before colliding with a telegraph pole and overturning. No one was in the car, a Vauxhall Astra, and no one was injured as a result of the incident. An investigation is now underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident."