Van smashes through flat

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

A VAN ploughed into a ground-floor flat in Brockley as the owner slept just metres away.

James Hamilton, 30, of Endwell Road, was in bed next to his front room when the van smashed into the bay window at 3.15am.

Mr Hamilton, who bought the property with his brother Toby in September, said: “I was in bed after staying up late watching television when I heard this gigantic crash.

“The whole house shook. I went into the living room and there was a van inside it.

“There was a guy behind the wheel and I called the ambulance, he was unconscious and I could see the air bag had gone off.

“If I had been up an hour later, things could have been seriously different.

“We’re just trying to sort things out with our insurers.

“We can’t use the room. “When we cook we have to eat in the kitchen or in our beds.

“It’s only a two-bedroom flat, so it’s far from ideal.”

The crash on Tuesday of last week is the third major accident to happen in the road in the past five years, prompting Mr Hamilton to join a call by residents for Lewisham council to install road safety measures.

Dorothy White, 66, who lives next door with her husband Tony, 69, have previously seen a vehicle go through the wall of a neighbouring business after a driver lost control.

The couple’s new car was also written off by an out-of-control driver while parked outside their home.

She said: “This has happened before and will happen again unless something is done by the council. They put up wooden bollards but they get knocked over. “There needs to be a metal barrier and more sleepers to slow people down. We also want a speed camera and illuminated sign.”

A Lewisham council spokesman said: “We are obviously concerned about this recent incident and will be looking into what measures may be taken to further improve safety on this road. “As part of this we will be looking closely at the incident report when we receive it from the police.”

A man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving following the crash.

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