19 hours ago
Three evacuated from flats after city building damaged in early hours
Three people had to be evacuated from flats in the city centre after a car crashed into a building with a man in his 20s arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.
A car crashed into a ground-floor flat in Shirelake Close, just off St Aldate's, in the early hours of this morning.
Thames Valley Police confirmed a 21-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and criminal damage.
He had been taken into hospital then into custody. No other injuries were reported.
Oxford City Council confirmed three people were evacuated from the flats with alternative accommodation arranged for them over the weekend.
Bosses at the nearby Head of the River pub provided a place for them to rest while temporary accommodation was sought by the council.
In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, the city council said: "At about 4am this morning (June 21), a vehicle struck a ground-floor flat in St Aldate's, Oxford.
READ MORE: Oxford: Man arrested after crash 'damaged' city building
(Image: Contributed) "We evacuated three of our tenants from the building and have arranged alternative accommodation for them over the weekend.
"A structural engineer visited the site this morning and has confirmed that the building is safe.
"Further investigations will take place on Monday (June 23) to determine what repair work is needed before our tenants can return to their homes.
"We'd like to thank our colleagues at ODS for their swift response in securing the building, and the manager of The Head of the River pub for kindly offering a place for our tenants to rest while we arranged alternative accommodation."
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Thames Valley Police confirmed earlier that a 21-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and criminal damage.
A police spokesman said: "We are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision on Shirelake Close, Oxford, at around 3.50am today.
"A blue Mazda 2 TS hit a building, causing significant damage.
"Only the driver, a 21-year-old man, was hurt.
"He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and criminal damage and taken to hospital.
"Any witnesses or anyone who has dash-cam footage should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting the reference number 43250307807."
OxonTravel, a traffic account run by Oxfordshire County Council, confirmed at 11.45am that the road had been fully cleared and the delays had reduced after earlier congestion.
There were delays along Abingdon Road and at the junction of St Aldate's and Thames Street while a cordon was in place with emergency services at the scene.
