A FALLING lamppost crushed a classic car fan's dreams yesterday.
Chris Downes's 1990 Lincoln Towncar – which he had spent thousands of pounds renovating – was smashed when a car crashed into the post outside his Stapleford home.
Chris, 26, was at work when his partner called to tell him that the post, in Pasture Road, had fallen on to his car.
He said he was "gutted" by the accident because he had spent 18 months renovating the Towncar, known as a lowrider due to its special hydraulic suspension system.
The IT technician said: "I just can't believe it.
"It is so unfortunate. I have spent over a year working on the car's suspension and put in a whole new gear box and hydraulics.
"I bought it from a friend who is also a lowrider enthusiast for £500.
"He had bought it off another enthusiast. When I got it, it had no wheels and needed a complete overhaul, so I did all that and I would say overall I have spent around £7,000."
Mr Downes said that he couldn't believe his ears when his partner told him what had happened.
He said: "My partner was at home when the car crashed into the lamppost.
"She runs an embroidery business so didn't hear the bang over the whir of the machines, but she is just as shocked as me.
"For people that know about these cars, they are very special and it is a shame.
"The car roof is completely crushed."
He hopes that his insurance will cover the cost of the damage.
He added that his neighbours had told him a man driving a Peugeot had crashed into the lamppost.
He said: "Apparently, there was a bang when the car hit the post and another when the post hit my car.
"It isn't a dangerous road and this sort of thing has never happened here before."
Dave Williams, who lives opposite Mr Downes, was at home working on his computer when he heard the crash.
He said: "I heard a double bang and thought, 'what's that outside?'
"I came out to see a car wrapped around the base of the lamppost.
"This car had lost control and gone into the lamppost. The second crash was the lamppost coming down on the other car."
A spokesman for Notts police said they were investigating the crash, which happened at around 11.30am yesterday.
