Isle of Wight pensioner devastated after car crashes into house

A huge amount of structural damage was caused to the two-storey home of Dave Tombleson when a Honda Civic left Blackwater Hollow — the main road from Blackwater to Rookley — and ploughed into it, via a barrier and garden fence, at around 5.30am this morning (Saturday).  

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Read more: Car crashes into Isle of Wight house

Three people fled the scene. Two of the passengers, a male and female, were beside the wrecked vehicle, which came to rest high against the house, when Mr Tombleson, 77, came outside to see what happened.

They asked stunned Mr Tombleson if they should find the driver, who had already run off — then they fled themselves.

The accident left Mr Tombleson's home partially in ruins and requiring urgent work to shore up his living room from possible collapse. 

"I can't believe it. I had only just got the entire house redecorated," he said.

Mr Tombleson had been up early that morning doing paperwork, had breakfast, then returned to his upstairs office to continue, when he was startled by the loud noise of the collision.

Photo: Jon Moreno (Image: Newsquest)

Photo: Jon Moreno (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "I heard screeching around the corner, then all of a sudden this car came crashing through a barrier, a fence, then through the front of my house.

"I was having my breakfast down there. If I had been there five minutes earlier, I would have been showered in glass and other materials.

"It has left the house in a terrible condition and a huge repair bill. It is devastating — very much so.

The crash wrecked Dave Tombleson's home. Photos: Jon Moreno (Image: Jon Moreno)

The house needed shoring up from possible collapse. (Image: Newsquest)

"It was built in the 1800s. Its restoration will be painstakingly slow."

No other vehicles are believed to have been involved. 

Police investigating the crash are seeking anyone with information to call 101, quoting 44220369111.