Residents react to lorry crashing into home in Sproughton

Police were called to High Street in Sproughton at about 2.30am on Thursday following reports that a lorry had crashed into a house. 

Sproughton residents as well as the volunteer speed watch group have previously complained that traffic diverted from the A14 through the village is a "nuisance".

The incident took place at 2:30 am.  (Image: Google Maps) The diversion exists due to work being done on the A14 between Claydon and Copdock, which will stay in place till December 19, having been in place since September. 

National Highways says that this is being done to overlay asphalt on the concrete section of the road which will reduce overall noise and lower the frequency of repairs in the future. 

David and Carol Starling said they were scared when they heard the noise. (Image: Contributed) They noted that a part of their house had been damaged. (Image: Contributed) David and Carol Cranwell say a crane on top of a lorry had hit their house and chipped it slightly.

The couple said: "We woke up to a bang in the middle of the night, expected it to be some sort of an explosion.

"Initially we were scared cause we did not know what had happened, only to see that it was our house that had been nicked."

Christopher Hudson said that this was inevitable.  (Image: SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL) Mr Hudson said: "It is a tragedy that this crash happened, but it was inevitable with the way the diversion has been in place. 

"The road is not suitable as a thoroughfare, and I want to ask National Highways how long are they going to endanger property and life?"

The county councillor added that if work is not done quickly he fears something like this will happen again. 

Andrew Bannan also said something like this was bound to happen.  (Image: Supplied) Meanwhile, Andrew Bannan, one of the volunteers of Sproughton's community speed watch group, said: "Something like this could have been predicted and that this is not the first time something like this has happened.

"It merely serves to underscore the insanity of diverting A14 traffic through the narrow high street in Sproughton."

Helen Davies said this was 'unsurprising'. (Image: Helen Davies) Meanwhile, Babergh District Council and Sproughton Parish Councillor Helen Davies said: "The parish council has been worried about the possibility of damage to the road and worse.

"The drains have been broken and are now waiting for repair.

"Unfortunately and unsurprisingly last night there was a more serious accident on the High Street which is currently being dealt with by Suffolk Constabulary’s commercial vehicle unit."