Express & Star

Car slams through garden wall and hits two parked cars before smashing into house

A car smashed into the first floor of an elderly couple’s home after a high-speed crash.

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The scene

The silver Vauxhall Corsa slammed through a garden wall, crashed into two parked cars, and hit the semi-detached property in Amblecote before smashing into a garage.

Police said a man suspected of being the driver of the Corsa ‘incredibly’ only suffered minor injuries.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Amblecote Road, near Withymoor Village, in Brierley Hill, just after 4am this morning.

The scene in Amblecote - picture by Brierley Hill Fire

James Bird, whose mother and father-in-law, John and Amber Blumdell, live at the damaged house, said the couple were ‘in shock’.

He described a Jaguar S-Type and a Vauxhall Astra GTC hit by the Corsa as ‘written off’ and said Mr Blumdell, aged 86, and his 74-year-old wife had escaped unharmed.

“Everybody is ok. We have got to check the safety of the house,” he said.

Damage to one of the cars

Referring to a black mark on the side of the property, he added: “That is where it has hit it.

“They have had to have structural engineers in.

“There are cracks all in the wall, it has done some damage.”

The car’s speedometer read 40mph after it was crumpled against the building, according to police, who explained that the smash was a result of ‘hitting two cars and a wall at great speed’.

The road was closed for around half-an-hour while the scene was made safe.

West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Fire Service also attended the scene.

Neighbour Alex Mullard, 20, said she heard a ‘loud bang’ at 4am and her stepfather went outside to investigate.

She said neighbours helped to pick up pieces of car debris from the road shortly after the incident.

She added: “It was really quiet and then there was really a loud bang.

“My stepdad went outside because we are good friends with them [home owners]. He went to check what was going on. The ambulance, police and fire came quick.

“I just hope everyone is alright. The fire brigade originally told them that they might have to leave the house because it might not be structurally stable.”

Another concerned neighbour has made calls for stricter speed calming measures following the crash.

Neighbour Michael Smith, 71, who has lived on nearby Hudswell Drive for 19 years, urged authorities to put more in place around the area to help reinforce the 30mph speed limit.

He said: “It is shocking.

“There are quite a few accidents here, it is a 30mph zone.

“They ought to have more than speed signs. Some cars don’t go round the island they just go straight over the top.”

Police said no arrests had been made.