A mother has told how her family cheated death on Christmas Day after a speeding car slammed into their home causing it to partially collapse.
Ana Mario Diconu said her two young children were in rooms upstairs when the car carved a 10ft gaping hole in one side of the detached home.
Her nine-year-old daughter had just opened a present when the car ploughed into the ground floor room before careering into their silver Golf car parked on the driveway.
A two-year-old son was still in bed when the horror crash took place around 9.45am on Christmas Day.
Ana, 30, and her partner Florian,34, were still in bed when the car slammed into their home.
‘There was just like a big explosion and the bed lifted off the floor. The whole house shook, like something to hear about in an earthquake.
Ana Mario Diconu, 30, and her partner Florian,34, were still in bed when the car slammed into their home
Ana said her two young children were in upstairs rooms when the car carved a 10ft gaping hole in one side of the detached home
The side of the house has been obliterated in the crash and left with an enormous hole
‘We knew straight away that it was a car because we could hear the engine.
‘We were in the bedroom above the room that has been destroyed.
‘I still can’t believe it. We are so lucky that no one was in the room, otherwise they would be dead.’
Police have arrested an 18-year-old on suspicion of dangerous, driving without insurance and a driving licence following the crash in Grays, Essex.
Ana’s partner Florian said he rushed outside after the crash and could smell gas from a ruptured pipe.
‘As soon as I smelled the gas I ran back into the house and got the children out. We did not want to be in there with all the gas,’ he said.
‘It happened a few days ago, but I am still in a bit of shock.’
He said the driver had attempted to flee the scene but was caught by a neighbour.
The construction worker said:’ I still can’t believe what has happened. This is our house, and we want to come back but will not be allowed until it is safe.;
The ordeal has left a gaping hole in the family’s home
The couple returned to the property to look at the damage
The couple, originally from Romania, had lived in the three-bedroom £400,000 home for the last two years with their nine year old daughter and two year old son. None of the family were injured in the crash.
Ana works at a nearby Amazon warehouse and said the house had been full on Christmas Eve for a party with her sister-in-law, brother in law and their daughter.
‘We had a party the night before and had opened some presents. That is why we were in bed and did not have an early start. The others were staying in an upstairs bedroom.
‘The room that has been damaged was a spare room. We had wanted to use it has a dining room, but we don’t know what will happen now.’
The couple returned to the property to look at the damage.
Both looked visibly shocked as they stood in the front garden amid a pile of rubble. Two police officers were parked outside to prevent anyone gaining entry.
One side of the building is propped up with wooden joists. Family photos and other personal mementoes can be seen among the shattered bricks and breeze blocks.
A smashed double glazed window rests against the family car which has also been wrecked after the speeding car came to rest on its driver’s side front panel.
One side of the building is propped up with wooden joists following the ordeal
A telecoms box and street sign were also wrecked by the car which neighbours said was going in excess of 60mph in a 20mph road.
Ana said she is grateful that other family members from Romania did not travel to Essex this year as they would have been staying in the ground floor room.
‘If they had been here then we would have put them in the room. It is awful to think what could have happened.
The couple said they are insured and are hopeful repairs can be carried out in the New Year.
‘This is our home and we want to come back here. We are with friends, but we want to go back to our own house as soon as possible’