Police say sorry for tweet mocking driver who crashed £150,000 McLaren supercar into a wall as they admit he was NOT speeding
- The driver left the 204mph McLaren 570S embedded in bricks in Staines, Surrey
- Chief Inspector Michael Hodder said it was not intention to cause offence
- Surrey Police officers had poked fun at the driver for the crash online
- The force also today confirmed to MailOnline ‘no offences have been identified’
- Do YOU know the McLaren driver? Email tips@dailymail.com
Police have rowed back after posting a string of controversial tweets which mercilessly ribbed a supercar driver for writing off their £150,000 McLaren.
Chief Inspector Michael Hodder from Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit told MailOnline in a statement his officers did not intend ‘to cause any offence or belittle the severity of the incident’ after they rubbed salt in the wounds following the nasty crash.
The force’s official account yesterday shared a picture of the crumpled car which crunched into a brick wall on Chertsey Lane, Staines-upon-Thames, Sunday night.
Officers tweeted sarcastically: ‘Somehow the driver of this McLaren couldn’t keep the car on the straight road in a 40 limit. Investigations continue.’
But the force has been left red-faced after hinting the driver was speeding, today admitting that ‘no offences have been identified in relation to this incident.
The motorist left the 204mph McLaren 570S embedded in bricks as he stood next to the wreckage with his apparent partner in Staines, Surrey,
Chief Inspector Michael Hodder from Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit told MailOnline his officers did not intend ‘to cause any offence or belittle the severity of the incident’ after they rubbed salt in the wounds following the nasty crash
One concerned person tweeted: ‘Why do your tweets have to be so sarcastic? Was anyone hurt?’. The official police account, verified by a blue tick, replied: ‘No, just pride thankfully’
Follow-up tweets from the police said the motorist had ‘no talent’ and bragged that ‘having driven cars with more power and definitely more power to weight… the “skill” of not stamping down on the Go pedal is a very basic one…’
Some were appalled with the social media pile-on following what was evidently a nasty crash.
One concerned person tweeted: ‘Why do your tweets have to be so sarcastic? Was anyone hurt?’
The official police account, verified by a blue tick, replied: ‘No, just pride thankfully.’
But criticism of the tweets have prompted a climb down from the chief inspector, who all but apologised on behalf of his force.
Chief Inspector Hodder said in a statement: ‘We are aware that the tweet posted by the Roads Policing Unit in relation to this collision has attracted some criticism.
Follow-up tweets from the police said the motorist had ‘no talent’ and bragged that ‘having driven cars with more power and definitely more power to weight… the ‘skill’ of not stamping down on the Go pedal is a very basic one…’
‘It was certainly not our intention to cause any offence or belittle the severity of the incident.
‘The team continually balances the need to raise awareness of road safety messages whilst being innovative in our messaging on social media.
‘I am fully supportive of officers highlighting road safety matters and engaging with the public on social media, which continues to be an important channel of communication.’
A police spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘We were called to reports of a single vehicle collision in Chertsey Lane, Staines-upon-Thames, just before 11pm on 31 May.’
The motorist left the 204mph McLaren 570S embedded in bricks as he stood next to the wreckage with a woman.
A photograph from the scene, near Thorpe Park, shows the bonnet bent around a pole sticking out from the wall with police standing nearby.
Social media users also mocked the driver and his partner under the force’s social media post at 11.46pm yesterday.
Joe Zampa, who lives near the crash site, commented: ‘His Mrs doesn’t look too happy either.’
- Do YOU know the McLaren driver? Email tips@dailymail.com