This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-25963780
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Car reverses into Royston bungalow kitchen | Car reverses into Royston bungalow kitchen |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A family has been left living in half a house for five days after a neighbour reversed her car into their kitchen. | A family has been left living in half a house for five days after a neighbour reversed her car into their kitchen. |
Jose and Tony Poole, of Garden Close, Royston in Hertfordshire, were on holiday in Fuerteventura at the time of the accident on Saturday afternoon. | Jose and Tony Poole, of Garden Close, Royston in Hertfordshire, were on holiday in Fuerteventura at the time of the accident on Saturday afternoon. |
However, son Nick was house-sitting when he heard "an enormous bang". | However, son Nick was house-sitting when he heard "an enormous bang". |
No-one was hurt, but the car remains embedded in the house while the family waits for the insurance company to inspect it. | No-one was hurt, but the car remains embedded in the house while the family waits for the insurance company to inspect it. |
Nick Poole said: "I had just left the kitchen after making a sausage sandwich when the car came crashing through the wall. | Nick Poole said: "I had just left the kitchen after making a sausage sandwich when the car came crashing through the wall. |
"I immediately ran outside and luckily the driver was fine, but obviously shocked." | "I immediately ran outside and luckily the driver was fine, but obviously shocked." |
'Holding up roof' | 'Holding up roof' |
He described it as a "freak accident". | He described it as a "freak accident". |
"I heard lots of revving and then the car must have just shot out of her driveway opposite, across the road, through my parents' brick wall and into the kitchen." | "I heard lots of revving and then the car must have just shot out of her driveway opposite, across the road, through my parents' brick wall and into the kitchen." |
It is believed the car, an automatic, began revving uncontrollably. The woman tried to put it in park, but that meant going through reverse gear. The car then accelerated backwards. | It is believed the car, an automatic, began revving uncontrollably. The woman tried to put it in park, but that meant going through reverse gear. The car then accelerated backwards. |
The accident destroyed the room, which had been newly-renovated in December, as well as hitting the gas and water supplies. | The accident destroyed the room, which had been newly-renovated in December, as well as hitting the gas and water supplies. |
Emergency services and gas engineers spent four hours making sure the area was safe. | Emergency services and gas engineers spent four hours making sure the area was safe. |
Mr Poole then had to break the news to his parents. | Mr Poole then had to break the news to his parents. |
Unfortunately they were unable to get home until Wednesday evening so Mr Poole lived in the house, without water or heating for four days, as he was worried about security. | Unfortunately they were unable to get home until Wednesday evening so Mr Poole lived in the house, without water or heating for four days, as he was worried about security. |
The Pooles called out an engineer who told them it would not be safe to remove the car. | The Pooles called out an engineer who told them it would not be safe to remove the car. |
"It basically has to stay there, effectively holding up the roof until the insurance company's loss adjuster comes," he said. | "It basically has to stay there, effectively holding up the roof until the insurance company's loss adjuster comes," he said. |
Owner Tony Poole said he and his wife "have been dumbstruck for days after hearing that the lady had parked her car in our kitchen". | |
"Effectively it's half a house now, and we have spent many months renovating it all. Now we have to start again," he said. | "Effectively it's half a house now, and we have spent many months renovating it all. Now we have to start again," he said. |
He added although the insurance company had offered them a hotel, they did not want to leave the house until the car was removed and their home was secure. | He added although the insurance company had offered them a hotel, they did not want to leave the house until the car was removed and their home was secure. |