PHOTOS: Polish lorry gets wedged against house in Exmoor village after sat-nav blunder
A blundering lorry driver wedged his vehicle between a house and a churchyard wall in an Exmoor village, closing the road and damaging the house after a sat-nav error.
The vehicle, which belongs to Polish firm Skat, became stuck between two walls in Sanctuary Lane, Brompton Regis, Somerset at about 7pm on Thursday.
It is believed to have been carrying paper to a mill in Watchet.
The Highways Agency was yesterday attempting to recover the lorry and the road was expected to remain closed all day.
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The 44-tonne articulated lorry’s back wheels have blown and it is resting on its rims.
Kevin Steer said the lorry was embedded in the side of his house, and had caused considerable damage, including ripping off guttering, slates, and electric cable.
Mr Steer said: “I was in the house at the time – it sounded like shotguns going off as both his tyres exploded when they were ripped by some stones.
“The driver is Polish and doesn’t speak a word of English. He stayed in his cab all night in his sleeping quarters.
“This is a regular occurrence that large lorries come through the village, and normally they just take the guttering off,” he said.
“Most drivers don’t stop but two years ago I chased a lorry down the Exe Valley in my car and had to drive in front of it to block the road because the driver wouldn’t stop.
“I’ve contacted the Highways Agency about this before and they seem to think it’s difficult to stop them coming through.
“They’re very reluctant to put bollards in or anything to protect the house. I have a £150 excess on my insurance – it makes me cross if I’m lumped with £150 every time.
“Normally the lorries don’t stop and I have to foot the cost of putting back the guttering each time.”
Mr Steer said he thought lorries were being directed through the village by satellite navigation equipment and said companies should consider an alternative route.
He said: “I think it’s high time that there should be a separate system solely for lorry drivers, to stop them going down these narrow, undriveable roads.”
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