Children 'traumatised' and 'scared to go home' after car driver crashes into house
A mum says her children have been too scared to stay at home after a car driver lost control and smashed into their house.
Shocking video footage given to the Express & Star shows the moment the dark-coloured Vauxhall swerved across the road and smashed into the house, causing extensive damage and leaving two children lucky to escape without injury.
Natalie Skelding says the incident on July 25 on Hayes Lane, Lye, has traumatised her sons Jenson, aged six, and Finlay, aged five, with the pair spending time with their grandmother, Wendy, who lives in the same street.
They are finally starting to move back but the house needs extensive repairs, and Jenson is afraid to sleep in his own room.
Wendy has called for speed-calming measures on the road which is often used as a cut through between Lye, Cradley Heath and Halesowen and contains a nursery school and a day centre close to where the car crashed.
She said: "It caused lot of damage to the house which is already in a state of disrepair and little Jenson was so traumatised he wouldn't go home or sleep there for a week. Only now is he willing to go back but not sleep in his own room and he is weary of people.
"Our councillor has been very helpful in coming out to look at the house and he has pressed the council into action to the extent they have spoken to the landlord and it is going to be repaired but who is to say it won't happen again?"
Lye and Stoubridge North ward councillor David Borley said he was shocked to see the damage to the house and the general condition of it inside and out.
He said: "There are a number of issues around there including cars going too fast though the majority adhere to the speed limit but it only takes one who doesn't to cause potential danger.
"But there is also overgrown grass and hedges that obscure the property which needs to be addressed and also the general state of the house which is suffering from mold and damp.I will be taking all these issues on and with the speeding will press for some possible traffic calming measures.
Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb said she had been in touch with the police and the council about the incident.
She said: "It is very concerning because it was a narrow escape. Once I have a response about the road safety issue I will update the family further."
West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment.