Car crashes into building, driver in serious condition

A person has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after a car smashed through a building on Linwood Ave.

Emergency services were called to Linwood Ave, near Hereford St, about 10.45pm on Wednesday night after the car reportedly went through the lights at the intersection.

Part of the building is leased by Canterbury SCL and another is leased by Birth Rite midwives.

Building owner Roydon Smart said he is trying to sort out alternative accommodation for the businesses.

"They have made an absolute mess down half of the building, it's really badly damaged," he said.

"It's disrupting the businesses, the SCL blood centre can't keep trading until we get an engineers report on the building."

Damage to the building is expected to be assessed by insurance staff and builders later on Thursday.

He said another crash at the same site a few years ago caused damage to fences and signs.

"It's just another bloody hassle from some idiot, and it's time they got some decent penalties to stop them doing this stuff," he said.

"He will probably get some minor penalty."

A police spokesperson said the circumstances of the crash will be investigated. No charges have been laid at this stage.