Shock for Swansea teenagers as car crashes into front of house

THREE Swansea teenagers had the shock of their lives when a car collided with their home.

Stevie Jones, 17, Keiron Chapman, 16, and Michael Cuttle, 16, were in the living room of their Broughton Avenue house in Blaenymaes when the incident happened.

The three boys were watching television when they heard a loud bang and the front door of the house flew open.

Stevie said: "I called the police and they were quick to arrive."

The former Daniel James Community School pupil said the incident, which happened at around 8.20pm on Sunday, drew a crowd of around 150 people in its wake.

Grandmother Diane Edwards lives at the property in Broughton Avenue with Keiron, her grandson, and was out visiting her son at the time of the incident.

The 57-year-old has lived at the house for the past 35 years and was still shaking as she spoke about the incident yesterday morning.

She said: "I came home just after it happened.

"Every Sunday I go up to my son's for dinner. My daughter phoned me and said there was either a car in the garden or in the house.

Lucky

"We both came straight home. It is lucky it didn't go in far."

Firefighters, ambulance crews and police officers arrived on the scene shortly after the incident.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police confirmed two men from Swansea had been arrested in connection with the incident.

A 22-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol, and a 24-year-old was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop and report a collision.

A spokeswoman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed a car had collided with the front of a house in Blaenymaes.

Crews from Swansea Central and Morriston were dispatched to the scene at around 8.22pm.

The fire service was involved in making the vehicle and the property safe.

Penderry councillor Terry Hennegan lives close to where the incident happened and said it was the first incident of its kind in four or five years.

It is not known if speed was a factor in the collision, but Mr Hennegan said cars being driven too fast had been a problem in the past.

He said: "There was a time when there was a lot of it going on up here, but police and the community came together and that was stamped out.

"It is sad that something like this has happened, but it is an isolated incident."

Mr Hennegan said he knew the family who lived in the house which was damaged and praised them for their work in the community.

The property is owned by Swansea Council.

A spokesman said: "We initially responded to the incident on Sunday evening. The property was checked for structural damage and considered safe. Housing officers have since visited the tenant to offer appropriate advice. Arrangements have been made for a further inspection of the property and any necessary repairs will be undertaken as soon as possible."

rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk

01792 514597