Hit and run left Newbury family too scared to open the front door
A Newbury family say they have been left ‘absolutely devastated’ after a car crashed into their home at the weekend.
A black Ford Fiesta crashed into the home on Cleveland Grove in the town centre on Saturday just after midnight.
The boundary wall was smashed completely and damage has been left to the front of their home and to their family car.
It awoke the family with a loud bang.
Resident Jitesh Israni said his 72-year-old mother and eight-year-old daughter were sleeping in the room above the garage – where the car crashed – at the time.
“This affair has left me in a trauma,” said Mr Israni.
“My wife and I also heard it and responded within seconds.
“As we looked down the stairway, the door and window panels were lying shattered in the hallway.
“I ran downstairs and landed myself on broken glass pieces and brick rubble.”
Mr Israni said people from the nearby The Lion pub heard the bang and came running to provide witness accounts.
He said the abandoned car was smoking from the bonnet but began to settle as he dialled 999.
“The boundary wall is damaged beyond repair,” he added.
“It [the abandoned car] drove inside the front garden and banged into the house’s front door, and the garage door and my car that is parked on the driveway.
“The front wall of the main building above the garage has a crack in the bricks.
“There's cracks inside the garage.
“The plaster board in the entrance hall is cracked.
“The front door is unusable, the garage door is boarded up and my own car is smashed on the driver side.”
He added: “My family is absolutely devastated.
“We’re scared to open the front door and haven’t been sleeping since the incident.”
Thames Valley Police said it is investigating the incident and is calling for witnesses.
A spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police is investigating the incident and would ask anyone with information or footage from the area to contact the force.”
People can get in contact via the TVP website at https://shorturl.at/zLRT9 or by calling 101, quoting investigation number 43230347860.
