Fishponds crash leaves homeowner in shock after car smashes into property
A Bristol resident has been left shocked and upset after arriving home to find a car[1] had crashed into her property. Yesterday (Thursday, January 11) the driver of a grey BMW smashed into the wall[2] outside Wendy Gay’s house in Fishponds[3].
Witnesses claimed the crash on Ridgeway Road happened after the vehicle struck a parked car at speed, though Avon and Somerset Police[4] has not yet confirmed the circumstances. Avon Fire and Rescue[5] Service said no one was injured but that the collision involved “two cars [and] left a vehicle in a precarious position”.
After an emergency response the damaged vehicle was taken away last night at around 7pm, and the debris was cleared by Bristol City Council[6] at 9pm. The road reopened yesterday and apart from crash marks on two cars, there was little evidence left today to suggest any incident had occurred.
Wendy said she can remember “at least nine or 10 crashes” in the decades she has lived on the road, and urged people to stick to the 20mph speed limit. She said: “When I returned home, I was shocked to see the car in front of my house.
“My first thought was how did it end up in that position?” The crash caused damage to Wendy’s parked Smart car as well as the wall.
She was not at home when it happened but rushed back after neighbours alerted her to the situation and sent her pictures. Bristol Live spoke to neighbours at the time who said the driver seemed to lose control of the car after a burst of acceleration and collided with a parked dark blue Volkswagen Touran.
They described how the BMW then hit a kerb and bounced onto the wall. Wendy is unsure how much it will cost to repair her damaged car.
She added: “It’s upsetting as I love my car and I’ve had it for two and a half years. I don’t know the full extent of the damage, thankfully the driver [of the crashed car] has insurance.”
Wendy’s Smart car was damaged when the BMW landed in her front garden. (Image: Bristol Live)
Ridgeway Road[9] has seen a number of incidents in recent years, including a car which flipped entirely onto its roof two months ago. This had led campaigners to try to get the council to make the road safer.
Since moving into the house in 1976, Wendy said she has seen a number of incidents relating to a blind corner on the road. The road is often used as a rat-run between Fishponds Road and Lodge Causeway.
“I wish people would respect the 20 miles-per-hour speed limit. I wish people were more thoughtful and less selfish.
“I can remember at least nine or ten crashes here since I moved in. Things need to change. If I had it my way, I’d block the bridge [on Ridgeway Road] to stop people using it as a rat-run.”
A fire service spokesperson said: “Crews from Bedminster[10] attended and on arrival at 15:05, found a collision involving two cars which had left a vehicle in a precarious position against a wall.
“Crews used stabilising equipment to keep the scene safe and put a safety cordon in place. There were no injuries. The scene was left in the hands of police colleagues.”
References
- ^ car (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ the driver of a grey BMW smashed into the wall (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Fishponds (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Avon and Somerset Police (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Avon Fire and Rescue (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Bristol City Council (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Manhunt after crime spree in Bristol suburb (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Woman left ‘shocked and mortified’ at Bristol shopping mall (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Ridgeway Road (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
- ^ Bedminster (www.bristolpost.co.uk)