Exclusive:'You couldn't write it': Car evading police crashes into Leeds gamer's home while she escapes police on Grand Theft Auto
A Leeds woman who was being chased by police while playing the video game Grand Theft Auto was left “terrified” when a car being chased by police smashed into her house.
Emma Graves was left “terrified” after the car crashed into the wall just inches from where she was sat playing on her PlayStation in her flat on Thornhill Road in Armley.
Miss Graves has said that the coincidence is “just so ironic”, adding: “I literally couldn't make this up. It was not funny at the time but it was afterwards.”
Miss Graves, 44, has since set up a petition for greater traffic calming measures on the “dangerous” road, which she says is frequently used as a rat run for those travelling between Upper Wortley Road and Tong Road.
Leeds City Council has said that officers will be meeting Miss Graves on site to discuss the concerns while West Yorkshire Police have said that eight arrests were made following the collision in relation to a wider firearms investigation but no charges have yet been made.
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Miss Graves lives at the flat with her mother, who she is a full-time carer for, and was in her bedroom on the ground floor playing the popular video game when the crash happened at around 10.40pm on July 2.
She said that she was evading police in the virtual world of Grand Theft Auto when she heard “engines revving, screeching brakes, then multiple impacts” outside the home.
“The car hit three others, tore through mine and my neighbour’s fencing and crashed into my bedroom wall, just feet from where I was sitting”, she said. “The flats physically shook. It was absolutely terrifying.
“If it had been even slightly worse, I wouldn’t be here to tell you this.
“Police were shouting at someone to put their hands up and put the weapon down.”
Fortunately Miss Graves’ mum was not at home at the time. She called her other family members over to support her following the crash.
Miss Graves moved into the council flat in November and said that soon after she became concerned with the way people were driving along the route.
She said: “Thornhill Road has been dangerous for a long time. It’s constantly used as a rat run - by commuters, school traffic, delivery vans and joyriders, despite being a residential area with children, elderly and disabled residents.
“There are no traffic calming measures in place apart from two 20mph signs and a set of bollards further down Thornhill Road. The bollards don’t prevent these roads being misused.
She said that the crash was a “catalyst” for her to take action on the level of reckless driving on the 20mph road and she has since been appealing to the council to introduce stricter measures such as speed bumps or chicanes.
Miss Graves said: “I just want them to take it seriously and see that it’s a risk.
“The main worry is that something is going to happen and it’s going to take something deadly serious for them to do something.”
She added: “I’ve still got some anxiety every time I hear a car screeching.”
She said that she carried out a survey of the cars going past her house between 7am and 4pm last Thursday and found that, out of the 830 that went past, 243 were driving “unsafe or illegally”.
Miss Graves said that she has the strong backing of her neighbours, adding: “I have spoken to current and past residents and it’s, in their words, like a death trap.”
A petition has been set up that has so far received 124 signatures and Miss Graves said that representatives from the council are due to visit next Thursday (September 25).
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “Leeds City Council is aware of the recent incident on Thornhill Road and wishes to extend our concern and sympathy to the resident affected. We understand how distressing such experiences can be.
“While incidents of this nature are thankfully rare, we recognise the importance of thoroughly understanding all aspects before reaching any conclusions and making recommendations. To that end, a site meeting has been arranged with the resident to hear her concerns in person. We have also requested information from West Yorkshire Police to better understand the background to this incident.
“Together with our partners, Leeds City Council is committed to Vision Zero 2040 with the ambition being to have no one killed or seriously injured on our roads by 2040.”