Laindon dad relives horror as lorry smashes into home

The vehicle rolled down Clifford Close, Laindon smashing into the home and causing a huge amount of damage at about noon on Wednesday.

Images from the scene show the lorry stuck in the front of the home and damage left by the crash.

While the home is now boarded up and a repair mission is set to take place to make it safe again.

Crash - the lorry in the front of the home

The homeowner, a 30-year-old key worker, said he feels lucky to be alive. He said: “I had been out washing the car and had gone back inside and walked out the front door again to see that parked there.

“It was just about an inch from where I was by my car. If it has been a few minutes later I do not know what would have happened.

“I think it was a freak accident. It has ruined the inside of our house and it’s destroyed my son’s bedroom too. I could have been killed.

Damage - the hallway of the home

“My wife is very upset and we’ve lived here three and a half years and we really get on really well with our neighbours and we love living there.”

The windows and doors of the home have been boarded up following the crash. The key worker said his neighbours have been “godsends” after the incident.

He said it is still unclear when the family can return to their home. He added: “Something needs to be to stop bad parking and vehicles like this from using the road.

“We’ve spent so much time and money making our home lovely and then it’s taken away just like that.”

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A spokesman for Swan Housing Association said: “We are aware of an incident that took place at one of its properties at Clifford Close in Laindon on Wednesday, when a vehicle transporter collided with the property.

“We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response and they will now investigate the cause of the incident.

“Our priority at Swan is supporting our customers who have been affected by this incident and our immediate response, was to ensure that the property was made safe and that our customers have temporary accommodation, if they require it.”

Smash - the vehicle crashed into the property

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “It would be wrong to speculate at this stage as to the causes of the collision, which may have an influence on any future prevention measures.

“Clifford Close is not a through road and is designed partly to make anything other than low traffic speeds difficult.

“Parking restrictions can be requested via the South Essex Parking Partnership at https:// bit.ly/3hH09Yw. Residents can also raise any concerns with their Essex County Councillor.”