by Richard Craig
19 August 2010
A learner driver in Edinburgh caused an entire street to be evacuated after crashing into a gas pipe whilst attempting to perform a three-point turn. The driver, who has not been named, was trying to turn the BSM Fiat 500 around when she mounted the kerb and collided with the side of a house, rupturing both the gas pipe and a water main, which sent water shooting into the air. The resultant flooding and the risk to public health posed by the gas leak meant that Park Terrace had to be cleared of people, including a party across the road from the scene of the accident who were having a barbecue. Most of the evacuees were taken to a local school while workmen dug the pavements up to stem both leaks. One onlooker said, 'If she was on her test, I doubt she's passed it.'