Car crashes into Ashington house after collision

Apr 22 2009 by Peter Taylor, The Journal

FAMILIES have called for safety improvements after a crash at a busy road junction which is a school crossing point for children.

A family escaped disaster by seconds when two cars crashed outside their home in Alexandra Road, Ashington, and one was sent careering through their front garden into their front door.

Just over than an hour earlier children had been crossing at the junction with First Avenue with the help of their lollipop lady.

Welder Peter Coyle, 54, of Alexandra Road, had just got out of his car with his wife Judith and granddaughter Laurie, 10, and they were 25 metres away from their home when the crash happened at around 5pm on Monday.

A silver Vauxhall Astra crashed into their front entrance door, partly demolishing it and the walls around it. Damage will run into thousands of pounds and the front of the house may have to be rebuilt.

Structural engineers had to be called out to make sure it was safe to remove the embedded car and it was not until nearly five hours after the crash that it could be taken away.

Mr Coyle said: “We were just 30 seconds away from being at the front door. It’s a good job I’m a slow walker. I am just grateful no one has been hurt.

“We could all have been pinned against the front of the house. I dread to think what might have happened.

“If it had not been for the lilac tree in the front garden it would have smashed into the front window.

“The tree took a bit of impact and the car was deflected into the front door.