Ilkeston Man, 21, Charged After BMW Crashed Through 16-Lane Bowling Alley

Q: After a car tore through all 16 lanes, can engineers save the community's bowling alley, or is it damaged beyond repair?

It is too early to say the bowling alley is beyond repair; the evidence so far points to severe but not yet definitively fatal damage. Police say the BMW went through the wall of MFA Bowl in Ilkeston and travelled across all 16 lanes before stopping against an internal wall. That indicates a major impact affecting not just the façade but potentially internal structural elements, services, lane equipment and finishes across much of the building. Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service attended, and a structural assessment is under way. Whether engineers can save it depends on what that assessment finds about the building’s load-bearing system. If the car mainly destroyed non-load-bearing walls, internal partitions, lane machinery and finishes, the site is likely repairable, though costly and time-consuming. If key columns, beams, roof supports or the building’s load path were critically compromised, repairs could become so extensive that demolition or partial rebuild is more practical. The strongest public sign so far is that MFA Bowl has said it will remain closed “until further notice” but also told customers, “we will be back open once we’re allowed.” That suggests the venue has not been written off at this stage. So the position on June 14 is clear: the damage is serious, engineers are still assessing structural integrity, and no authority has yet said the community bowling alley cannot be repaired.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 14

Three people were injured after a two-car crash on Derby Road in Ilkeston shortly before 17:00 BST Friday sent a BMW through the side wall of MFA Bowl.
Derbyshire Police charged a 21-year-old Ilkeston man with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, criminal damage recklessly endangering life, failing to provide a specimen for analysis and assault.
The BMW crossed all 16 bowling lanes before stopping on the far side of the building; the man was remanded in custody and is due at Derby Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Derby Road was shut for five hours after the crash, and MFA Bowl said on Saturday that the venue will remain closed until further notice.