An investigation has been launched into how a Mercedes van ended up embedded into a house in Kemp Town yesterday – with a faulty handbrake the prime suspect.
The Sprinter van was parked in Bristol Gate at about 2.50pm yesterday when it rolled down the hill into Eastern Road, crashed with a car and then into a house in Sudeley Place.
The driver of the Toyota Yaris the van crashed with, a 63-year-old Brighton woman, had slight injuries but did not go to hospital. Fortunately nobody else was injured.
A police spokesman said: “The building into which the van crashed sustained extensive damage to an external wall, and a boiler, electrics and kitchen were destroyed.
“The van sustained heavy frontal damage after its handbrake appeared to have failed.”
A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue said: “At 2:53pm, firefighters from Brighton and Lewes (Technical Rescue Unit) attended Eastern Road, Brighton following reports of a van into a building.
“Crews arrived on scene and used electric saw cutters to remove the vehicle. No persons were trapped.
“Sussex Police and building control were also on scene. The building was stabilised and the incident was left with the homeowner.”
I have had 2 cars in my front garden inches from my house both with automatic brakes.
“Automatic brakes”?
What are they?