Lorry crashes into house in Rainham - driver pleads guilty to dangerous driving
The lorry crashed through a metal fence and into a semi-detached house. Picture: Jack Betson - Credit: Archant
A lorry driver has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and other serious motoring offences after his vehicle careered off a busy A-road, ploughed through a metal fence and crashed into a house during rush-hour traffic last Friday.
The incident occurred on the A13 in Rainham at about 6pm when the out of control lorry drove off the road and into an empty semi-detached house on the corner of Harle Way - where children had reportedly been playing in the front garden just hours earlier.
Police confirmed that the lorry, belonging to L.C Forwarding, had a Belgian registration plate.
Daniel Vasle Sofrenea, the 45-year-old Romanian driver, was arrested and charged with driving while unfit through drink or drugs, dangerous driving and driving without due care and attention. He was also charged with possession of an offence weapon.
He admitted all the charges when he appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday, and will be sentenced on May 6 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
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Fire crews from Wennington attended the scene to find the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) “holding the house up.”
One firefighter said: “The (HGV) had come along heading east and left the road. It went through the metal fencing and collided with the corner of the house.
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“It’s a good job there was no container on the lorry. But it cracked the wall and was the only thing holding the house up.
“We found the driver on the floor of the lorry, he was bleeding from his head. He had cuts and bruises and the air ambulance (HEMS) and ambulance crew came and took him to hospital.
“Neighbours said that earlier in the afternoon children had been playing in the garden,” said the firefighter.”
The road was temporarily closed between Chandler’s Corner and Lambs Lane while structural engineers made the property safe whilst the vehicle was recovered.
