A Burnham-On-Sea family says they are fortunate to have escaped injury after a car dramatically ploughed into the front of their home during the early hours of Saturday morning (June 21st).
The car was being driven at speed along Oxford Street when it came off the road at around 6am, destroying a wall and sending bricks and concrete through the front windows of the house.
The four young occupants of the car – three men and a girl – allegedly fled the scene but police later arrested one of them.
Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com, the house’s residents, Pam and Douglas Bickham, said the incident had left them in shock and underscores the need for better enforcement of speed limits along the busy road.
“Anyone sat in the bay window of our lounge would have been seriously injured and could have been killed. It just doesn’t bear thinking about. The debris came right through our windows and across the lounge,” said Pat, pictured above.
Doug added: “Vehicles using this stretch of road frequently speed along at 70mph – there needs to be far better enforcement of the speed limit. I’d like to see a speed camera introduced.”
Next door neighbour Lindsey Stephens, whose garden was also damaged by the crash, said she had also woken with a start when the accident occurred. She told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I woke suddenly to a very loud bang and looked out to see my garden damaged.”
Another nearby resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s a disgrace that accidents like this happen. Young people just don’t think about the consequences when driving dangerously.”
She added: “When I looked out of my house, one of the youngsters was trying to pull off the vehicle’s registration plate. He didn’t check to ask whether the occupants of the house were hurt or even apologise. They all just fled the scene.”
Pam concluded: “Today has been the longest day of the year – and it definitely has felt like that for us. We’re very grateful for all the help of our neighbours and the police.”
The vehicle came off the road and span into a garden, sending bricks and debris through the front windows of the house
Large chunks of the wall and other debris showered the lounge
Police are still investigating the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday
