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Mum describes moment car crashes into home in Farleigh Hill, Maidstone

05:00, 10 January 2024

updated: 13:09, 10 January 2024

A mum has described the terrifying moment a car ploughed into her home after failing to stop for the police.

Allana Spencer thought a “bomb had gone off” as the vehicle came crashing through the front door of her property in Farleigh Hill, Maidstone.

Last Thursday police arrested a driver after they failed to stop
Last Thursday police arrested a driver after they failed to stop

The 27-year-old was lying in bed at the time as she is recovering from a recent miscarriage, which has seen her diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.

She told KentOnline: “I went into major panic mode and started screaming.

“I thought a bomb had gone off or the police were doing a raid on my home.

“I instinctively ran into my daughter's room, even though I knew she wasn’t there.

“My chest had gone really tight as I continued to panic. I couldn’t speak or breathe properly.

Allana Spencer and her four-year-old daughter Ava-Mae. Picture: Allana Spencer
Allana Spencer and her four-year-old daughter Ava-Mae. Picture: Allana Spencer

“I then called my mum who was able to calm me down.”

The shocking incident happened last Thursday at 7.20pm, when the driver failed to stop when ordered to.

A woman in her 20s from Maidstone was arrested at the scene with the road closed for around four hours.

Allana lives with her four-year-old daughter Ava-Mae, who was at her grandmother’s house during the time of the crash.

She added: “I couldn’t even get down the stairs – I had no shoes on and there was a lot of rubble.

The 27-year-old thought a “bomb had gone off”. Picture: Allana Spencer
The 27-year-old thought a “bomb had gone off”. Picture: Allana Spencer

“Instead, I hung my head out of the window, just to get some fresh air.

“The police kept shouting ‘don’t move’ and then smashed the driver's window in.

“They dragged her out onto the street and I thought ‘oh my god’.”

The catering assistant believes officers following the car performed a manoeuvre to force the driver to stop .

Elizabeth Mckirdy, who lives in the row of houses opposite, was watching TV when she saw the crash.

“It was very wet that night and there was a lot of surface water,” she said. “Almost instantaneously there were blue lights flashing and sirens.

“At the time you couldn’t tell if it was a male or female because they were head-to-toe in dark clothing. They seemed to be the only person in the car.”

Another neighbour described how the crash sounded similar to “a huge lorry with scaffolding going over a speed bump”.

Later that night, Allana moved into the Premier Inn in the town centre and has been staying there since Thursday.

Due to worries over structural damage, her housing association, Hyde, confirmed it had sent engineers to check the building and next door the following day.

It looked as though the car had spun out and hit the house. Picture: Jen Browning
It looked as though the car had spun out and hit the house. Picture: Jen Browning

Since the crash, new pictures show the full extent of the damage to the semi-detached house.

It has been completely fenced off – with a barrier in place to protect the homes as neither have a front garden or wall.

The front door to the left has been removed and boarded up, along with the middle section between the two entrances having most of its brickwork removed.

“The car hit the downstairs cupboard. The front wall had been moved at least a foot in,” Allana explained.

“It’s now touching the bottom of the stairs. That’s why it was so difficult to get out initially.

Allana initially couldn’t get down the stairs due to the rubble. Picture: Allana Spencer
Allana initially couldn’t get down the stairs due to the rubble. Picture: Allana Spencer

“I’ve got no front door – it was removed as it was hanging off its hinges.”

Since the incident, the mum has been calling Hyde for updates and was told she will be in the hotel for at least another week.

Despite her situation, she has been trying to stay positive.

“I try to joke about it, as it’s my coping mechanism,” she added. “Otherwise I’d be pulling my hair out.

“My mum, Melitta, has been supporting me throughout and my daughter’s school has offered to let me wash and dry clothes.

Since the accident the front door has been boarded up. Picture: Allana Spencer
Since the accident the front door has been boarded up. Picture: Allana Spencer

“I wouldn’t know what to do otherwise. It’s driving me insane with all these phone calls.

“It was also my mum's birthday last weekend – we told each other we weren’t going to cry – we just wanted to do something normal.”

It is not the first time the property has been damaged by a car.

Back in May 2021, one rolled down the hill after the driver forgot to secure the handbrake.

The back end had hit her kitchen window and damaged the gas meter box. Both had to be replaced.

Two households have been evacuated and put in temporary accommodation
Two households have been evacuated and put in temporary accommodation

In 2014, a motorcyclist had to be taken to hospital following a crash along the road.

A man had to be cut from his car in August 2016 and another accident involving a cyclist took place in September 2018.

Allana has lived there for four years and now wants to find another place to live.

She said: “I don’t want to go back – I have visions of my daughter being there and getting hit again.

“There’s no wall or protection, it is just a pavement and is dangerous.

The front of the building has been fenced off
The front of the building has been fenced off

“I always walk out the back door into the car park instead of leaving through the front.

“I want to live somewhere where we won't fear for our lives.”

Nicole Mamsonguina Ebuka, of Lynley Close, Maidstone, has been charged with careless driving, failing to stop when required to do so by police, and driving without insurance.

The 23-year-old will appear at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Monday, February 5.

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