UPDATE: Occupant of Carbrooke home “was on holiday” when vehicle ploughed into her kitchen
Car crashed into the kitchen of a house in Marauder Road, Watton. Picture: Christie Peart
By SOPHIE WYLIE
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
5:28 PM
The occupant of a Carbrooke home was on holiday when a car ploughed through her front wall and into her kitchen this morning (Wednesday).
Car crashed into the kitchen of a house in Marauder Road, Watton. Picture: Christie PeartFirefighters rescued a pensioner from the vehicle after the dark blue Vauxhall Corsa smashed into the front of the terraced house in Marauder Road, Carbrooke, on the outskirts of Watton, at about 11am.
The East Anglian Air Ambulance was called to the scene as a precaution, but the man, believed to be 82 years old, was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with minor injuries by land ambulance.
Only the boot of the car could be seen from the quiet residential street, and two-thirds of it was inside the house, built on the former RAF Watton site about three years ago.
About 20 shocked neighbours remained gathered at the glass-strewn scene three hours after the accident happened.
Car crashed into the kitchen of a house in Marauder Road, Watton. Picture: Christie PeartNeighbours said the driver had been visiting a family member who lives in Marauder Road before the crash happened.
They added the woman who lived in the house was on holiday in Great Yarmouth at the time of accident but was due to return this afternoon.
Dean Hort, 39, who lives near the crash site, said: “She didn’t believe me at first when I told her. She thought it was a wind up.”
Michelle Abel, 30, who lives next door to the damaged home, said her house was unaffected.
The row of terraced homes is owned by Saffron Housing Trust, based in Long Stratton.
Philip Sampher, chairman of the Blenheim Residents’ Association, said: “There are usually children running up and down this road so we are lucky that nobody was hurt.”
A fire service spokesman said police called them to the scene at 11.18am, and crews from Watton, Hingham, King’s Lynn and Thetford were sent out.
The car was removed at 2pm and Norfolk police said there was no danger to the house in taking it away.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We were alerted to a car in collision with a house at 11.04am. A man has been taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with minor injuries.”
A Saffron Housing Trust spokesman said: “We are relieved that no-one was at home when this curious accident happened. Saffron maintenance staff are assessing the damage and loss adjusters have been called in.
“We will carry out the necessary repairs as quickly as possible, once the damage has been assessed, with the aim of causing minimum inconvenience to the tenant and family.”
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
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9 comments
hiya everyone i live next door to the house that has been affected she is a great friend of mine with two young kids no body know why the man went in to the house so plz no bad comments about the driver has we dnt know why it happened x
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mrs abel
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
hiya everyone i live next door to the house that has been affected she is a great friend of mine with two young kids no body know why the man went in to the house so plz no bad comments about the driver has we dnt know why it happened x
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mrs abel
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
My husband thinks my license should be revoked for a week every month due to PMT driving, I would be inclined to agree. I also think people of all ages should have annual check-ups on their health, people with diabetes should have to prove that their condition is under control and blood sugars checked regularly, anybody who has ingested any amount of alcohol or drugs ( including some prescription medication) should not be allowed behind the wheel, anybody who has had a bad day at work, an argument with their partner, parent, or best friend should not be allowed behind the wheel. Their are a great deal of factors that can affect driving ability aside from age and there are people in their 70s and 80s that have better health and reaction times than some of us younger folk. I believe that people should self regulate before even putting the keys into the ignition and if you drive carelessly should be responsible for the outcome of their actions or omissions no matter what their age!
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Shanski
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The trend is for people to live longer than ever before and not wishing to pass comment on this particular incident, there is compelling evidence for drivers - once they reach the age of 70 to have to resit their driving test and to be medically examined every 5 years thereafter. Leaving it up to the individual to make the call as to whether they are competent to continue driving is no longer an option. We all think we are the best drivers in the world and who in all honesty is going to admit they are no longer up to driving. It often takes an accident or an illness before people realise they are no longer safe behind the wheel.
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BG
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I hope the police throw the book at the driver and I hope the driver has deep pockets as the repair bill for the house is going to be huge. We need to get these dangerous OAP's off the road NOW!!!!!
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Karen Henry
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Whilst I agree that no one should drive if they are incapable, this should apply to all ages. The statistics do not show that elderly drivers are the most dangerous at all. More may die as a result of accidents because of their relative frailty but they elderly are not the age group who cause most accidents.Who took notice of the age of the driver in the crash in the rain on the A47 the other day? No excuse, many were driving too fast for the conditions-but the EDP did not flag up young driver or middle aged driver as a headline. Yet they do it quite often with elderly drivers and very young drivers. Next time some middle aged man in a fast saloon causes serious injuries or deaths in a head-on caused by reckless overtaking perhaps the EDP will headline it as such.
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Daisy Roots
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
'high speed' in 'quiet residential street' hope the police throws the book at him, too many elderly dangerous drivers on the road as it is.
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stevejo
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
@stevejo A rather sweeping statement. Do you know all of the facts about why this incident occured? Of course you don't. Regards, Whiley.
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Whiley Boy
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
time to revoke their licence, why do selfish elderly drivers continue to drive while unfit or impaired.
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stevejo
Wednesday, August 8, 2012