Darlington couple's near miss as car crashes into home

Lisa Wilson, 49, and Ian Burnside, 55, were walking to their friend's house on Stockton Road in Great Burdon when a car almost struck them before leaving the road and smashed into a family home.

The car was fully embedded in the home as Lisa, an ambulance care assistant and Ian stepped into action and rushed towards the scene in a desperate attempt to free those trapped inside the car.

Lisa Wilson, 49 and Ian Burnside, 55 from Darlington. (Image: LISA WILSON) Lisa told The Northern Echo: "We had just arranged to go and see our friends and were walking towards the home on the right-hand side of the road. We were about ten seconds walk away from the house.

"We then noticed the headlights of a car that just veered off the road and we just watched it hit the building. 

"We heard the explosion of the car and bricks flew everywhere - initially I thought it was our friend's house. But then we just ran towards the house and I shouted to Ian to call the police.

Pictures from the crash on Stockton Road, Great Burdon in Darlington. (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) Lisa then bravely rushed into the rubble to get to two men inside the car - sustaining bruises and grazes to her arms and legs in the process.

Partner Ian worked with her in tandem, moving bricks and more out of the way to help those involved.

"All I was thinking is that there was going to be dead bodies everywhere," Lisa said.

"I started shouting asking if they could hear me and the man in the passenger seat was trying to open the door which I pried open. I could tell they were injured."

Pictures from the crash on Stockton Road, Great Burdon in Darlington. (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) Minutes later, emergency services including the fire brigade, ambulance, and police swarmed the scene and took over first aid and secured the area. 

Lisa added: "This was the first time I've ever seen something like that - I was a bit shaky. It was pretty scary. Today I have woke up just aching with bruises.

"I've now realised we were seconds away from being hit ourselves - we would have been turning that corner to get to our friend's house."

Another witness, who preferred not to be named, said: "All I heard was a thump thump. I thought - that's bad, someone must have a flat tire. But the next thing, there was this almighty crash.

"I knew immediately that this was a big crash. I said quick, quick, there's been an accident. We ran out there. 

"As we were out there others told us to ring 999 - the noise was just horrendous. We had a bad night's sleep - the emergency services were still here at midnight.

Pictures of the aftermath of the crash on Stockton Road, Great Burdon in Darlington. (Image: CONTRIBUTOR) "We can't thank the emergency services enough. They were brilliant."

It has now been confirmed that one of the men involved in the crash was rushed to hospital.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic incident on Stockton Road, Great Burdon, Darlington, shortly before 8.45 last night (Friday 1 November).

"We dispatched a double-crewed ambulance and a duty officer. One patient was taken to James Cook Hospital."

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service added: "Three fire appliances attended the scene from Spennymoor, Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

Pictures of the aftermath of the crash on Stockton Road, Great Burdon in Darlington. (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)

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"It involved one private motor vehicle which collided with a home. There were two male adults in the vehicle who self-extricated.

"The fire service provided first aid at the scene until the arrival of ambulances. We also made the scene safe."

Durham Constabulary has been contacted for more information.