Dramatic pictures show aftermath after car smashes into garden wall

Jim Rankin sitting on what is left off the front garden wall at his North Road home.

In the early hours of Sunday, November 17, a car smashed into the wall outside Mr Rankin’s home sending bricks flying across his garden.

The driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving whilst under the influence of drugs – and has been released under investigation.

Mr Rankin recalls numerous incidents over the years on the stretch of road including when a horse box sprung loose and ended up in his garden.

The front garden wall of Jim Rankin's North Road home after a car crashed into it.

Now he’s calling for safety precautions to be looked at to warn drivers to take extra care.

Mr Rankin said: “It’s quite a common occurrence here, it’s a busy and dangerous road and this is just another incident in a long list.

“I was awoken by the police to tell me what had happened. It’s the second time this has happened in around six years.

“When this kind of thing happens nobody is really surprised anymore. We use to have meetings with the council, we wanted traffic calming measures to be put in place.

The telephone poll was knocked down in the crash

“There’s still be no speed camera installed which could help.”

Nobody was seriously injured in the crash outside Mr Rankin’s home but two occupants of the vehicle left the scene on foot.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "It was reported that a vehicle had been in collision with a garden wall. Two occupants then got out of the vehicle and left the scene.

"Officers attended and located those in question. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured.

The front garden wall of Jim Rankin's North Road home.

"A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs. He has been released under investigation and enquiries are ongoing."

Following a number of incidents in the road in 2013, Sunderland City Council carried out work on the road to improve safety.

A council spokesman said: “No road traffic collisions with injuries have been reported by the police in North Road’s approach to Rainton Bridge during the last three years.

“However, the council is aware that there have been a number of non-injury accidents possibly from stolen vehicles and where the driver fled the scene. The council is speaking to the police about these matters as part of its road safety monitoring.

“The council would remind all highways users to drive with due care and attention, adapt their driving to the conditions and do not treat speed limits as a target.”