Croston woman left to pick up £11,000 repair bill after her Audi is mangled in hit and run
Francesca Harwood, 26, was awakened by police at 3am on Thursday, May 16, after a van crashed into her Audi parked in Station Road, Croston.
The 26-year-old, an admissions tutor at Runshaw College, followed officers outside where she found her cherished 18 plate Audi A1 mangled in the road.
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Hide AdThe blue/grey Audi had been parked on the street when it was struck from behind at around 2.25am.
The force of the collision sent the £18,000 Audi crashing into a telephone pole on the pavement.
The other vehicle, a white Ford Transit, failed to stop at the scene.
"It was like a nightmare. My car was just a crumpled mess in the middle of the road", said Francesca.
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Hide Ad"I had to follow the officers outside where I was asked to identify my vehicle. I just couldn't believe it."
Francesca has been told that it will cost around £11,000 to repair the damaged Audi.
But her hopes of finding the driver responsible has been emboldened after CCTV footage emerged of the crash.
The footage appears to show a white maintenance/utility vehicle speeding along Station Road seconds before the crash.
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Hide AdThe works van, which is believed to be a Ford Transit, can be seen breaking suddenly as it approaches the parked Audi.
Police investigating the incident also recovered a Ford badge in the road next to the damaged car.
Francesca is now appealing to the public to help identify the van and driver.
She said: "It's been an awful experience. I'm afraid to even leave my courtesy car on the road now. It's a worry every night.
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Hide Ad"The driver must have been travelling at some speed because my Audi was shunted out of the road and into a telephone pole on the pavement.
"I've been told it will cost £11,000 to repair the damage, which is just so upsetting. I can't believe they can just drive away like that.
"Unfortunately, the licence plate cannot be made out in the video, but the van is quite distinguishable and appears to be a service vehicle of some kind.
"It will have considerable damage because there were white paint marks all over my car and the van's Ford badge will be missing.
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Hide Ad"If there is anyone who recognises the van, or any employers who know of a damaged van in their fleet matching the description, please do the right thing and report it to police."
A police spokesman said: "We were called at 2.29am on May 16 to reports that a parked car had been found damaged on Station Road in Croston.
"It is believed the car had been shunted into a telegraph pole."
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log number 127 of May 16.