A man has come forward following a dramatic hit-and run crash in Weymouth.

Neighbours told of their shock after a house was destroyed when a pickup truck ploughed into it just before midnight on Saturday.

Such was the force of the collision it is understood the house has been condemned due to the structural damage.

A 23-year-old Weymouth man has now come forward and is assisting police with their enquiries. 

Police have now recovered the vehicle which was confirmed to be a black Ford Ranger. 

Police said a vehicle left the road in Sundew Close at Lodmoor just before midnight on Saturday and crashed into the front wall of a property. The vehicle, which then sped off into the night towards Dorchester Road, had knocked down a road sign and narrowly missed a tree before it smashed into the house.

No-one was injured. 

The house owner, who was too upset to talk yesterday, is said to be ‘devastated’.

Neighbour, Richard Hale said: “We heard a massive bang at about quarter to twelve. I thought someone had crashed into my car so I leaned out the window. I saw the truck reverse into the road and head off at a hell of a speed. It all happened within two or three seconds.”

He added, there was a lot of water in the road where the car had turned and he thought there would have extensive damage to the radiator.
Mr Hale called police and hurried to check on his neighbour. 

He said he and his wife had been kept awake by a large car driving erratically and screeching in the area for 20 to 30 minutes before the crash.

One resident said: “I heard a hell of a crash, the sort of crash you can feel in your gut. For the amount of damage that has been done, it’s amazing anyone was able to drive away.”

Police said the truck had caused serious structural damage to the front kitchen area of the building.

Neighbour Amy Hale said the area was normally very quiet and it was amazing no-one was hurt.

She described the house owner as a ‘lovely chap’ and said he was staying with his parents as the property had been condemned. 

She added he had only moved into the house eight months ago. 

Sergeant Mark Scammell, of the traffic unit, said: “Thankfully, the occupants of the property were in another room at the time and nobody was injured. The owner has been left devastated by the incident.”

He added: “I am still appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the manner of driving of the pick-up truck prior to the incident, and has not yet spoken to police to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 19:547. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

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