Church faces £15,000 bill after hit-and-run incident

May 28 2009 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

Church faces £15,000 bill after hit-and-run incident

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a hit and run crash that caused up to £15,000-worth of damage at a Hamilton church.

The smash demolished stonework and gates at Cadzow Parish Church, Woodside Walk, Hamilton.

It happened on Sunday, May 24, at 3.45pm, at the time a children’s class was taking place in the church’s vestry.

A police spokesman said on Wednesday: “A Mercedes four-wheel drive jeep struck the stone wall, and hit the wrought-iron gates to the entrance to the church.

“Thereafter it drove off, mounting the pavement on the other side of the road, and struck a parked vehicle.

“The driver then drove away without giving a statement to police.”

A spokesman for the church added: “We were visited by an insurance assessor this afternoon who asked us to provide two cost estimates for repairs and replacements of stone pillars and gates.

“We anticipate that this could take up to two or three months, and the cost of the damage is thought to be in the region of £12,000 to £15,000.

“The driver caused this damage and then drove off apparently without a care.

“I suspect that the driver was either driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, or that they were driving a stolen vehicle.”

The Gothic-style church, designed by R A Bryden, was opened in 1877 for coal miners and their families.

If anyone saw the accident or witnessed the driver of the vehicle making off, contact Hamilton Police on 01698 483 300, or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.