Retired Sunderland couple left shocked as car smashes into their garden

A retired Sunderland couple got a shock wake up call when a car smashed into their garden wall this morning.
A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.
A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.

James Ballantyne and partner Rosalyn Scott were at their home in Weardale Avenue, South Bents, when a Toyota Yaris careered into their garden.

The car hit Mr Ballantyne’s own Toyota MR2 vehicle but caused minimal damage, although the garden post and fence at the property have been wiped out.

A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.
A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.
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The car is believed to have skidded on black ice in the run-up to the accident taking place.

Police have confirmed that no-one was injured in the incident.

Mr Ballantyne, 66, said: “It happened at about 8am today.

“I was in bed just about to get up and my partner was making breakfast when we heard a big crash.

A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.
A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.

“My car’s been bumped, a garden post has been knocked down and the gate has been destroyed.

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“Thankfully the lad driving the car was OK. I think he was a bit shaken, but he wasn’t injured.

“His car has been quite badly damaged.”

It’s not the first time that the couple’s home has been crashed into.

A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.
A Toyota Yaris car which has crashed into the wall of a house in Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland.

Seven years ago a car smashed in the garage area of the property.

“There have been accidents before because it’s a bad corner,” said Mr Ballantyne.

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“When the car crashed into the garage all those years ago it caused about £28,000 worth of damage.

“Hopefully this time everything is covered by my insurance.

“My partner asked the police if they could get the salt wagon to come around to grit the road and they were in the street a while after.”

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "At 8.21 this morning we received a report a car had collided with a wall and another vehicle in Weardale Avenue, Sunderland after skidding on some black ice.

"The male driver was shaken but did not appear to have any sustained any injuries as a result of the incident."