A YORK resident has called for action to be taken after motorists have twice crashed into – and written off – his parked car.
Simon Watterson, 46, of Huntington Road, said he had lost thousands of pounds as a result of the collisions.
In the latest, a driver hit his parked car and damage was done to another in the early hours of Tuesday.
Neighbours said there had been a string of dangerous collisions in the street, and have appealed to City of York Council to address the number of crashes in Huntington Road before someone is badly hurt.
Mr Watterson: “We have had two cars hit now – this was a fairly significant crash. I have never seen speed cameras or a police presence here.
“I never understood why there was never any speed monitoring down Huntington Road. It’s a major thoroughfare from the city centre and it’s a long, straight stretch.”
He said because insurance companies would only cover the value of the car now, he will be left out of pocket by thousands of pounds after twice having to pay the difference in cost for a replacement.
His neighbour, former Labour councillor Dr Roger Pierce said it was the eighth such accident in Huntington Road, between Lowther Street and Grove Terrace Lane, in four years. He said nothing seemed to have been done to address the problem in Huntington Road, despite a meeting with councillors in April.
Dr Pierce said: “It’s a narrow road with a wall and it’s almost like a double bend. Sooner or later someone will be badly hurt.
“We accept that in most cases the accidents were due to driver error, but I’m sure the council could be doing more to reduce the extent of these incidents.”
Dave Merrett, City of York Council cabinet member for city strategy, said: “The officers have looked at the location and are struggling to identify any particular causes for the accidents.
“They are completing a danger reduction scheme where there are no injury accidents, but there are damage accidents and they are having a think about what they can sensibly do in this area.
“What makes me very concerned is that those types of accidents are repeating and we will have to see what we can do with the resources available and against what priorities.”
A police spokesman confirmed that an Astra was involved in a collision with a Fiat Punto and Nissan Almera at 3.30am on Tuesday.
Paramedics were called to assist the driver. A 26-year-old man has been charged with drink-driving in connection with the incident and will appear at York Magistrates’ Court in September, the spokesman said.
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