Three young women narrowly escaped falling 15ft when their car crashed into some steps overlooking an underground car park.

The black Mercedes mounted the pavement in Sutton Court Road, Sutton, behind the police station, about 9.45pm last night.

It then ploughed through pedestrian railings and came to a standstill across some steps leading up to a walkway over the parking area.

Eyewitnesses said the driver, believed to be in her early 20s, was stretchered to an ambulance.

The two female passengers, who were of a similar age, walked to the ambulance themselves.

All three were taken to St Helier Hospital, with two of the women suffering from whiplash and the third suffering from cuts to the leg.

The car - which had a personalised number plate spelling out MI55 5EXY - was badly damaged in the incident.

Fire firefighters from Sutton came across the crash on their way back from another job, and set about making the area safe.

Crew manager John Thompson said: "Luckily, the iron works held the car up. But if it had happened 2ft to either side, it would have fallen 15ft."

Fire fighters were called to the scene again later that night to help remove the vehicle.