‘We always knew an accident was going to happen’ - Couple speak out after crash outside their Sunderland home
Homeowners “always knew an accident was going to happen” after a vehicle ploughed into their car while they were away on holiday.
Residents Marc and Andrea Condra are now hoping Sunderland City Council will introduce more traffic calming measures along St Luke’s Road, in Sunderland, following the smash.
Both the couple’s motor and a vehicle belonging to a friend, who was housesitting for them, were damaged – with their car ending up partly resting on another following the impact.
The council insists road safety remains “a key priority” and that it will “continue to assess requests for further improvements”.
The Condras were on holiday in Turkey with their children when they were contacted by their friend about the smash.
Marc said: “We had a call from her saying there’s been a crash outside your house. Then I saw the photos and I was like that’s not just any crash, that’s my house and that’s my car.
"We could not believe it.”
Northumbria Police said the driver of the Suzuki fled the scene before officers arrived.
Incidents like this have been a regular worry for Marc ever since he and his family moved onto St Luke’s Road back in 2016.
He said he has been campaigning alongside Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Haswell for a number of years now to try to get traffic calming measures put in place.
Marc says motorists regularly flout the area’s 20 miles per hour speed limit and continued: “We’ve lived here since 2016 and that’s when we first realised there was a problem.
“We’ve been campaigning with the local councillor, Martin Haswell, about the speed.
“They installed a chicane at the top of the road but it made no difference to us. It stopped people flying around the bend but that doesn’t help us here.”
He added: “We always knew an accident was going to happen as nothing had changed.”
After years of campaigning with no results, however, Marc said: “Nothing ended up happening so we just gave up in the end.
"I’m disappointed in the outcome and disappointed that we had to give up.”
Marc hopes the council will “do something now there’s been an accident”.
He said: "It’s disappointing that something so severe has had to happen though. Prevention is better than a cure.”
Councillor Bill Blackett, Sunderland City Council's portfolio holder for environment, transport and enforcement, said: “Road safety remains a key priority for Sunderland City Council.
“We have previously introduced traffic calming measures on sections of St Luke’s Road and continue to assess requests for further improvements using evidence such as collision data, traffic counts and speed surveys.
“The council continually monitors road safety across the city and is committed to delivering measures where there is a demonstrated need.
“All road users have a responsibility to travel safely.
“The council would therefore remind motorists to drive with due care and attention, adapt their driving to the prevailing road conditions and not regard speed limits as a target.”
Northumbria Police can be contacted about the incident via their website or by ringing 101, quoting incident number NP-20260802-0744.