'Photographs came flying off the wall': residents tell of car crash horror in Coatbridge

Occupants told of photographs being thrown from the walls as the Citroen slammed into the side of the properties on Newlands Street, Coatbridge at around 4.45am yesterday.

Those living in four flats in the block were removed by emergency services and council staff shortly afterwards due to the potential structural damage and the dangers of remaining inside.

North Lanarkshire Council, who operate the sheltered housing, said three of the residents were placed with family members and one was re-housed.

While occupants of two of those apartments were allowed to return to their homes at around 1pm yesterday, others were not so lucky.

William Cairns, 73, lives in the top floor of the building which was struck by the car.

He was one of those who has been removed from his flat over fears about the safety of the building’s structure.

Mr Cairns, who will be staying with his partner, was awake at the time of the collision.

He said: “I had gotten up about 15 minutes before it happened to go to the toilet.

“I had no idea what was going on, I just heard a big thud and two or three of my photographs came flying off the wall.

“We are just back to collect some things – I am going to stay with my girlfriend for now.

“It is tragic, absolutely terrible. And at the holidays as well.

“I was so sorry to hear that the poor boy had died.”

The downstairs resident, who did not wish to be named, was also allowed to pick up some belongings from her house before leaving to stay with relatives. In her home broken furniture and wreckage from the front wall can be clearly seen from the street, while the front door is also now misshapen.

She is said to be very traumatised and upset by the incident after being rushed from her home early in the morning.

Neither of the two elderly occupants have been given an indication of when they could be able to return to their homes.

The car is said to have approached Newlands Street from Hozier Street before continuing into the garden of the houses before colliding with the front wall of the building.

The driver of the vehicle, a 20-year-old man, was taken to nearby Monklands Hospital by emergency services. He died a short time later and his family have been informed.

The Citroen car was reportedly removed from the building at around 10am.

The garden fence and accessiblity railing at the front of the building were also destroyed in the collision.

Other residents on Newlands Street were also awoken by the crash.

Derek Cassidy, 47, lives next door to the complex which was evacuated.

His car, which was parked metres away from the incident, was damaged after debris from the incident was propelled through the air, damaging his vehicle.

Mr Cassidy said he and other neighbours were visited by police early this morning.

He added: “I just heard a thud and woke up but didn’t think anything of it, thought it might have been the bin lorry or something.

“The next thing I knew the windows wer being chapped.

“I went outside and didn’t even see the crash at first. But when I saw it I thought ‘Jesus Christ’.

“My car had been hit by a fence pole from next door’s garden. That has taken some force.

“When you saw the crash you knew the driver was in a bad way.

“The fire fighters told us all that he didn’t think he would make it. It is a terrible thing, especially for the boy’s family at this time of year.”

Police are now investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash.

Officers had cordoned off the building as a precaution before demolition and structural workers arrived at the scene at around 1pm.

Sergeant Stuart Bell of Motherwell, Road Policing Unit, said: “Officers are currently checking CCTV and making door to door enquiries in the area, however we are appealing for anyone who may have seen this car prior to the incident taking place to get in contact.

“Anyone with information should contact Police via 101, quoting incident number 0620 of Friday 28 December 2018.”