16 August 2011 at 21:41
A 16 tonne Norbert-Dentressangle lorry struck a side of the Chequers pub in Houghton Regis this evening just after 5pm. The lorry apparently lost control and ended up going the wrong way around the roundabout out of Sundon Rd. Damage was caused to the left of the frontage of the building.
A witness said there were several loud bangs and crashes, and when she looked round there were 5 or 6 cars involved.
Surrounding roads were closed for over 3 hours. Roads started to reopen around 20:10.
There were no fatalities, some bruising and minor injuries. Five people were taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital for treatment. The driver of the lorry was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge by air ambulance that alighted on the green by the side of Parkside Drive.
Three people were described as walking wounded and two others had neck or back injury.
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "Given the potential of the situation we are thankful that the consequences were not more serious."
A gas leak that was caused in the crash was dealt with and structural engineers are due to examine the building.
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| Incident at the Chequers Roundabout 16 August 2011. Scene of wreckage leading up to the roundabout. The lorry ended up in the annexe at the side of the pub. |
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22 August 2011. The Chequers Hungry Horse pub in East End is now closed until further notice.
The Norbert Dentressangle lorry that crashed was en route from Stevenage to Leighton Buzzard.
Dave Finnie is the general manager of Norbert Dentressangle Specialist Services. According to him the driver was taken to hospital but, having suffered no significant injury,was discharged. The driver’s mate was uninjured.
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More than three and a half months after the incident, a spokesperson forNorbert Dentressangle, who's vehicle collided with several vehicles and demolished a wall of the Chequers, Houghton Regis, can only tell us that "the incident has been fully investigated but due to employee confidentiality Norbert Dentressangle cannot comment on the outcome."
Freedom of Information request to Beds Police asking for indications of causes of the accident. "searches failed to locate any documents relevant to your request. It is policy to only keep road traffic collision books for three years unless a child was injured. Accordingly I have determined that the information to which you seek access is not held by Bedfordshire Police. "