Location: Liverpool City Centre
Fire crews have been called to a Road Traffic Collision on North John Street in Liverpool City Centre. Crews were alerted at 12.40pm and on scene 4 minutes later, with two fire engines in attendance.
Crews arrived to find a car had collided with the front of a restaurant, with the driver out on arrival of the fire and rescue service. North West Ambulance Service were on scene and assessing three people for minor injuries who had been in the restaurant at the time of the collision.
The impact of the collision has caused a gas leak so a cordon has been put in place by firefighters and Merseyside Police. A structural engineer and a gas engineer have been requested to attend.
Neighbouring buldings are being evacuated. Road closures are in place at the junction of Dale Street and North John Street and also the junction of North John Street and Lord Street.
A multi-agency meeting has taken place between MFRS, Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service and crews are repositioning fire engines and setting up ground monitors.
The incident is ongoing, please avoid the area.
Incident Update : 3.15pm
The North West Ambulance Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and other NWAS personnel have been released from the incident.
A structural engineer has attended and advised that the damage has not compromised the structural integrity of the building. A Cadent gas engineer has capped the gas leak. Merseyside Police are still managing cordons which are now reduced to North John Street between Victoria and Harrington Street.
Fire crews are now leaving the scene in the hands of Merseyside Police.