Handbrake failure leaves car owner with that sinking feeling

FIRE crews, police and ambulance were scrambled after reports were made of a vehicle submerged in the River Tees at Barnard Castle last week.
By the time crews arrived at 9.30am on Wednesday the vehicle, wedged against a tree, was almost fully covered by the fast-moving water.
Vehicle owner Calvin Saville, who lives in Thorngate Wynd, said: “I was at home at the time, but I didn’t see it go in. I just came out of the house and found it in the river.
“It had just rolled into the river. I park it outside my house. The handbrake must have failed.”
The vehicle had rolled about 50 metres down a slipway next to his house and into the raging waters of the Tees.
He added: “There were fire, police and an ambulance, but when [they saw] there was no one in it they said it was a job for the insurance.”
A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were called to assist our colleagues at Durham Constabulary to a car in the river at Bridgegate in Barnard Castle at 9:36am.
“Two appliances from Barnard Castle attended the incident. On arrival it was clear that the vehicle’s handbrake had failed resulting in it rolling into the river. Thankfully, no one was inside or injured.
“Recovery of the vehicle was organised by the police and our fire crews left the scene at 9:53am.”