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WRECK: Margaret Williams surveys the aftermath of the crash
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Sat nav sends HGV crashing into house
Danielle Robinson17/10/2007
A PENSIONER had a lucky escape when a HGV ploughed into her 300-year-old cottage — after the driver followed sat nav directions.
The lorry crashed into Margaret Williams’ house on Taunton Platting in Ashton as she ate her lunch on Thursday afternoon.
The 79-year-old widow said: "All of I sudden I heard a huge crash and thought, ‘what on earth was that at the gable end?’
"Even though I am on my own, I always eat sat at the dining table in the kitchen because it was the way I have been brought up, and I’m glad I was because I dread to think what would have happened if I had been sat in the sitting room."
Despite her narrow escape, the pensioner was more worried about the lorry driver.
The mother-of-three added: "I felt sorry for the lorry driver as he was shattered by what had happened, so I made him a cup of tea.
"I asked him what was he doing driving down this road and he said that his satellite navigation told him to come this way."
Police closed the road for several hours as building inspectors surveyed the scene.
Margaret has no idea when she will be able to return home as there is extensive damage to both floors and she has been advised not to enter the property.
Residents have lobbied Tameside Council for several years about traffic calming measures.
Margaret said: "I have lived on this road since I was born so I know what it’s like. We had a residents’ meeting about three months ago and 95 per cent of us voted to close the road."
Colin Shaw, of Ney Street, said: "The house has been pranged quite a lot in the past and we have asked for help.
Another Ney Street resident Lorna Thistleton added: "We have been campaigning for years to close the end of this street."
A council spokesman said: "The council is concerned about any incident that occurs of this nature. It is understood in this instance that the lorry involved in the incident had been directed along this unsuitable road by a satellite navigation system, which is a growing problem around the borough."
She said consultation was ongoing regarding traffic safety and the possibility of road closure notice, but access would have to be kept open for emergency services and bin collections.
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19/10/2007 at 19:41