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Pensioner 'on phone to great-granddaughter' when van crashes into living room and kills her

A 90-year-old woman has been killed after a van veered off the road and crashed through her living room wall.

The pensioner, named locally as Joan Woodier, was on the phone to her great-granddaughter at the time of the crash, according to a neighbour.

A white Ford Transit smashed into the house in Yeolands Drive in Clevedon, Somerset, shortly before 8.30pm on Wednesday.

Officers arrested a 34-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Residents of neighbouring homes were evacuated due to fears a gas pipe had been damaged.

The aftermath of the crash in Clevedon (SWNS.com)
The aftermath of the crash in Clevedon (SWNS.com)

Julie Elson, 57, who has lived four doors down from Ms Woodier for 37 years, said: “The old lady was on the phone to her great-granddaughter at the time and she heard the bang and came down the road in her nightie because she lives in the area. She was hysterical, screaming.

“She heard the whole thing over the phone, the poor girl. The old lady would always speak to you – a true neighbour.”

Ms Woodier had worked in a Coventry munitions factory during the Second World War, another resident said.

Speaking at the scene, Inspector Frazer Davey said: “A vehicle, a Ford Transit van, has gone through the front of the house and sadly killed the 90-year-old female occupant.

“We have informed the family of the lady who has died, and we have specially trained officers who are supporting her family as we speak.

“This is a very sad collision that we are dealing with."

Officers want to speak to a witness at a nearby pub, he said.

“While we’re in the early stages of our investigation, we know the van involved, registration WR65 LNC, left the Crab Apple pub moments before colliding with the house,” Insp Davey added.

“We have already reviewed some CCTV from the local area and, as a result of this process, we have identified a witness who we’d like to talk to.

“At about 8.25pm someone is seen talking to the occupants of the van outside the pub.

“I’m keen for this person to call us as soon possible as I believe they may have information which could help our inquiry.”

He also appealed for anyone who had seen the van in Clevedon on Wednesday, or had dashcam footage, to come forward.

“The van is quite distinctive as it is white with a black bonnet and two white stripes. It also has ladders on the roof,” he said.

The arrested man and woman, believed to be local, remain in police custody.

Neighbours spoke of their shock at the incident, with some describing how they rescued two children from the van after the crash.

Colin Dicker, 80, who has lived in the area for 37 years, said: “We came back at 11pm and we saw the flashing lights and saw a number of emergency vehicles.

“It was certainly a shock – just unbelievable. I can’t understand how it could happen. It is so sad that someone was killed in their own house, it is awful.”

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said the van had crashed “straight through” the wall and into Ms Woodier’s sitting room.

Robert Cornock, 71, was one of the first people to enter the the house. He said Ms Woodier had lived there for more than 35 years.

Mr Cornock, a painter and decorator, said: “I was cutting the grass in back garden and heard a terrific bang. I ran across and saw a white Transit van embedded in the wall of the house.

“Me and my neighbour went in – we called her name but couldn’t see her at all because she was buried underneath the rubble in the living room. She wouldn’t have known anything about it, it would have been so quick.

“We could smell gas right away so we had to get out quickly. Unfortunately, the van was parked against the gas meter, trapping it, so it had to be removed before the switch could be turned off.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101, with the reference 5218083336.

Additional reporting by PA and SWNS