A 19-year-old receptionist experiences a shocking first day on the job as a runaway car crashes into the gym.
In a shocking turn of events at around 7:45 AM on what seemed like an ordinary day, a runaway black 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander crashed directly into the window of Improved U Fitness in Skelmanthorpe, West Yorkshire. Just two hours into his first official shift as a receptionist, 19-year-old Josh Haigh found himself at the center of unexpected chaos.
Thankfully, there were no reported injuries.
The Incident Unfolds
Imagine this: Josh was minding his own business when he suddenly heard a car alarm blaring outside. “I didn’t think much of it at first. Then I looked up, and a car was careening down the hill,” he recalled.
The Mitsubishi hit the window with such force that it shattered, sending glass flying everywhere. Can you believe the shock he must have felt? In the aftermath, he instinctively grabbed his phone to document the scene.
Meanwhile, gym owner Kieran Sanderson received an urgent call from Josh, who was clearly rattled.
“He rang me and was in a lot of shock. He said, ‘Kieran, you need to get down here, a car’s come through the reception window.’” Sanderson was initially confused, as the gym’s parking area is on the opposite side of the building. It soon became clear that the vehicle, parked at the top of the hill, had rolled down because there were no barriers to stop it.
Response and Evacuation
When Sanderson arrived at the scene, he wasted no time in evacuating the gym for safety. “As soon as we realized that no one was injured, we just laughed it off really. What else can you do?” he said, trying to lighten the mood. However, the police took the situation seriously enough to cordon off the area while recovery efforts got underway.
But getting the vehicle out wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Initial attempts by three different recovery vehicles were deemed too risky. “They all said, ‘We’re not touching it, it’s too risky,’” Sanderson explained. Eventually, a large articulated vehicle with a crane was brought in, but it took hours to arrive. The crane had to reach over from the main road to lift the car out safely. Can you imagine the tension while everyone waited?
Aftermath and Reflection
This unexpected event transformed what was supposed to be a standard first day on the job for Haigh into a story he likely won’t forget anytime soon. Although he had shadowed other staff for two days, this was officially his first day in a role that would surely be memorable. Ironically, the gym’s CCTV system failed to capture the crash, leaving some details of the chaotic incident undocumented.
As the dust settled and the gym began to recover from the incident, both staff and patrons were left shaken but relieved that no one was hurt. The day ended with a sense of camaraderie among the team as they reflected on the bizarre circumstances that had unfolded, turning a routine morning shift into a wild tale that would be shared for years to come. Who would have thought that a simple day at the gym could take such a dramatic turn?
