Council van takes out hospital cafe in freak accident

Karen Wint has run Karen’s Kabin from the lay-by opposite Chesterfield Royal for the last 11 years.

But a freak accident has meant to she has had to shut up shop - and needs to tell her loyal customers the disappointing news.

She said: “A Derbyshire County Council van came though the lay-by and went straight into my serving hatch.

“Honest to god it was a big shock - the driver said he doesn’t know how he managed to do it.

“The damage means I can’t close the hatch properly so that means I can’t open it to serve.”

Karen lives in Sheffield but has been travelling to her Calow base six days a week for more than a decade. She generally caters for lorry drivers and visitors to the hospital but says everyone is welcome.

She says staying at the same site for so long has taken ‘dedication’ but that she always has a steady stream of hungry and thirsty customers.

“I have to wait for the council to get in touch now about sorting it out,” says Karen.

“But I need to get the word out there that I am out of action at the moment due to unforeseen circumstances.”

A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council said: “The ladder rack on one of our vehicles caught the serving hatch canopy of a roadside café across from Chesterfield Royal Hospital as the driver was pulling into the lay-by.

“We’ve spoken to the business owner and advised that we will process the incident through our insurers.”