Roadside Wreck Earns Five-Star Reviews as Unlikely Landmark

An unexpected “historical landmark” has emerged in a rural area of a county: a wrecked vehicle that has remained stationary for over two months. The blue Vauxhall Grandland departed the A617 Kirklington Road in Nottinghamshire on September 10, with authorities confirming no significant injuries occurred. The vehicle is currently featured on Google Maps and has garnered an almost flawless 4.9-star rating from user reviews, one of which stated: “I’ve seen a lot of blue cars over the years, but this is my favourite.” Ian Woolridge, a parish councillor representing nearby Kirklington, attributed the listing to the community’s sense of humor, though he also expressed a desire for the vehicle’s prompt removal. Additional reviews on the entry laud the car, referring to it as a “modern-day Stonehenge” and “the Taj Mahal mixed with the Empire State Building on top of Mount Everest… times by 50”. A separate reviewer commented: “The subtle draping of the ‘police aware’ tape is a stark contrast with the vehicle position, which illustrates the ‘driver unaware’ of the ditch.” Marie Smith, a 52-year-old resident of Kirklington, mentioned circulating rumors suggesting the car’s immobility was due to bats having taken up residence inside. “It’s definitely a good source of village conspiracy theories at the moment,” she further stated. The BBC has been unable to verify the presence of bats in the car, and a representative from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust remarked that it would be a “strange place” for such creatures to inhabit. Notwithstanding the humorous feedback, Woolridge conveyed his hope that the heightened focus on this situation would prompt action, like the implementation of speed cameras. “Since [this accident], we’ve had four separate identifiable incidents in exactly the same scenario, where a car’s finished up in the ditch,” he explained. “It is a dangerous road, and that’s been proved year after year.” Nottinghamshire Police verified that the vehicle’s driver was interviewed at the site, noting that the car was “awaiting removal by keeper’s insurance company”. For updates, follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or by WhatsApp at 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material on external sites. Details on our external linking policy are available.