Vale Mayor's Jaguar is a write-off: Fire Service cut off roof to free driver after car park prang (From Barry And District News)

Vale Mayor's Jaguar is a write-off: Fire Service cut off roof to free driver after car park prang

4:30pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Sharon Harris

THE Vale Council has launched 'a full investigation' after the mayor's car hit a bollard at a Barry supermarket car park - and ended up having the roof cut off by the Fire Service.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to Morrisons on Thursday. (September 13) following a report at 5.49pm that a black Jaguar - the Vale mayor's official car - had collided with the pillar.

Red Watch from Barry fire station and a crew from Ely station cut the roof off the car, after a request from medics concerned about a possible spinal or neck injury to the driver.

Police, who were made aware of the incident, said a 53-year-old was taken to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales and no criminal proceedings would result.

The front of the car sustained damaged in the collision, according to fire crew, who took a standard 40 minutes to prepare the car - which is now a write-off - so paramedics could use a spinal board and neck collar to remove the driver.

One firefighter involved in the procedure, said: "We have to make sure the car is safe and take out all the glass before we start cutting. It's a long procedure but it was a textbook job.

"It was a nice car," he added.

"It was quite sickening doing the first cut."

Shoppers watched the emergency service operation take place.

One customer said: "It was like the cinema down there."

A Vale Council spokeswoman said: "The car was at Morrisons for refueling, and the council will be conducting a full investigation into the incident."

She said the vehicle was a Jaguar XJ6 V6 Auto 3.0 litre, first registered on December 7, 2004, and it had completed 90,300 miles.

She added: "It was in good condition and its approximate value for part exchange would have been £4,250. The retail price of this vehicle on a forecourt would be in the region of £5,795.

"We purchased the vehicle outright at the end of a period of lease - four years - on January, 5 2009, for £10,490."

Vale Mayor Cllr Eric Hacker was not in the vehicle at the time.