Shocking moment truck smashes into Devon beauty salon

Shine Hair and Beauty in Ilfracombe High Street, after a North Devon District Council flatbed truck rolled down the hill of Meridian Place, next to the Embassy cinema, across the High Street and straight through the front window early on the morning of Friday, January 31, 2025
-Credit:Devon Live submitted


The owners of a Devon beauty salon wrecked by a runaway council truck have said the incident could have killed people. Shine Hair and Beauty in Ilfracombe is now calling on Devon County Council to install bollards outside the business on the High Street to stop it happening again.

There was widespread shock in the North Devon town after the incident on Friday morning. Shine’s owner Rebecca Hoyles has been overwhelmed by support and offers of help from customers, fellow businesses and neighbours in Ilfracombe.

At around 6.30am on Friday, January 31, a council flatbed truck rolled down the narrow lane of Meridian Place, next to the Embassy cinema, lost control across the High Street and smashed through the window of Shine Hair and Beauty. It is believed there was nobody behind the wheel.

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“It has basically completely wrecked the entire salon,” said Adrian Startup, Ms Hoyles' partner. “The vehicle smashed through the window and has taken out the reception desk by the window and about five or six of the chairs - all of them - and it stopped right at the back of the salon.

“It doesn’t even bear thinking about what would have happened if this had taken place when the place was open. If that happened two or three hours later on Friday, we could be talking about people being killed or seriously injured,” he added.

“We can’t stop thinking about what might have been, and we’re only thankful no one was hurt. I’ve seen a video of the van going across the High Street and there was someone walking along the road and they had to jump back as it came out of the entrance to the lane and it only narrowly missed them.

The hill of Meridian Place, next to the Embassy cinema
The hill of Meridian Place, next to the Embassy cinema -Credit:Google Maps

“The hill is so steep. It’s a narrow lane but it points directly at the salon. I’ve no idea how fast the vehicle was going but it must have been going pretty quickly to end up so far into the building,” he added.

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The couple were called almost immediately after it happened and arrived to find council staff from North Devon District Council in attendance, with police close behind. The truck was pulled out later on Friday morning, and the salon boarded up to await building assessors. The focus for Ms Hoyles in the short term is to get the salon back up and open again as soon as possible, and they have been touched by how supportive everyone in Ilfracombe has been.

But the couple now want action as soon as possible too to make sure their shop front is protected so that this doesn’t happen again.

“A while ago, a truck came down Oxford Grove and went straight into the Indian restaurant a few doors along at the bottom of the hill, and the council put bollards in on the pavement to make sure they were protected,” said Mr Startup.

“We need Devon County Council to install bollards across the front of our salon as soon as possible - urgently. We’re only thankful that the need for this has been highlighted without anyone getting hurt. Our staff and customers need to feel safe.

Shine Hair and Beauty, left, in Ilfracombe High Street, after a North Devon District Council flatbed truck rolled down the hill of Meridian Place, next to the Embassy cinema, across the High Street and straight through the front window early on the morning of Friday, January 31, 2025
Shine Hair and Beauty, left, in Ilfracombe High Street -Credit:Google Maps

“The hill is so steep and it’s pretty busy with delivery vans and vehicles going up and back out again. We need to make sure this never happens again,” he added.

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“We’re all working as hard as we can to be able to open again as soon as physically possible. One good thing to come out of this has been the community spirit and support we’ve received has been incredible. We’ve had so many people checking we’re ok, asking if they can help. We had coffee shops bringing everyone cups of tea and coffee, I’ve had tradespeople in the town offering to clear their jobs so they can come and help us get back open again. It’s been amazing, the whole town has come together, and we just want to thank everyone, and thank all our customers for their patience while we try to get back open again,” he added.

Devon Live has contacted Devon County Council about the need for safety measures and a response is awaited.