Machine crashes into family home
A FAMILY have described the “apocalyptic” scene after a road-laying machine crashed into their home.
The vehicle rolled into the front of Jamie Atkins’ home on Glenview Street in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Thursday.
Mr Atkins, mum Tracy and fiancée Kaylie, who live in the house said they were in shock after the incident, which happened at about 1pm.
The 29-year-old delivery driver was working at the time, but his mum, 50, was at home.
“My mum was walking down the stairs as it happened,” he said.
“She went in the kitchen five minutes before the machine started rolling. She just got hit by a load of rubble, fell onto the stairs and started screaming. I thought she was injured, they way she spoke to me (on the phone) – she was crying a lot.”
He added: “I got back and just saw this machine that had gone straight through my house. It pushed all the walls back and the passage wall has gone up through the ceiling. My bedroom upstairs is nearly coming through it.
“The wall inside the house has got a big crack all the way through it and the radiators and everything are on the floor. I’ve got two parrots too, and it’s lucky they didn’t die, really. They live very close to that front wall. The damage is apocalyptic – a complete writeoff.”
The family have been told the vehicle began rolling after it had “jumped out of gear”.
Mr Atkins said he was initially not allowed back in his house, but his mum was inside so he climbed the back wall to help her.
He said: “She was in shock in the kitchen. It was a case of getting her and the animals out before it got bad. I don’t know where I stand for housing now. Last night I slept at my nan’s house. Its really put me out and I have to book a holiday for next week just so I can sort this out. I’m really stressed out about it. I don’t know whether I am coming or going.”
Because he was only allowed back home for a short while, the only possessions he now has are clothes he managed to grab from the kitchen.
A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf council, which attended the scene, said: “Since the incident, the council has been working with relevant partners to ensure the area is safe and to support the occupants of the property affected.”
A spokeswoman for South Wales Fire and Rescue service said the incident caused “severe structural damage”.
The vehicle had been sub-contracted by the council, but belonged to Pengam Plant Hire, which declined to comment.