*Two police officers have crashed in a high-powered sports car after it was confiscated from its driver.
The pair climbed into the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution in Hale while waiting for a recovery truck.
But the officers ended up ploughing the turbo-charged, four-wheel drive car into the gardens of two luxury homes, rolling it on to its side.
The officers were found inside the 54-registered car early this morning. One suffered minor injuries and the other was left severely shaken. No-one else was hurt.
The smash is now being investigated by officers from Greater Manchester Police’s professional standards unit. The car was removed from the scene this morning (see picture gallery above, right).
A spokesman for the force said both officers, who are police constables from the Trafford division, have been suspended from driving duties ‘with immediate effect’.
Chief Supt Mark Roberts, divisional commander for Trafford, said: “I can assure the local community that this incident will be rigorously investigated.
“Thankfully, no members of the public were injured. I would like to apologise to residents if this incident has caused any problems or inconvenience.”
It is understood the officers stopped the yellow Mitsubishi Evo VIII in Hale Road, Trafford, at 2.15am today after seeing it being driven erratically.
They suspected the driver, 23, of drink-driving and contacted traffic officers who then arrived and arrested him.
He was taken into custody and the car was authorised for recovery, but the officers then got into it and began heading along Hale Road.
They crashed into two gardens at the junction of Hale Road and Rydal Drive. The car had hit a wall and flipped on to its side. It is thought one of the officers was taken to hospital as a precaution. Local residents called police after hearing the car crash.
A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said an ambulance was called to the scene by the police at 3.09am.
She said a patient was taken to Wythenshawe hospital with minor injuries.
A police spokesman said: “Following the arrest of the driver, officers drove the vehicle from the scene. The car then collided with two front gardens.”
He added: “The collision is now being investigated by officers from GMP’s professional standards unit. Both officers have been suspended from driving duties with immediate effect.”
The Mitsubishi’s 23-year-old driver remains in custody for questioning.
The 270bhp Evo VIII can do 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and is electronically limited to 156mph.*