A man has died and two more have been injured after a bin lorry crashed into a house in Herefordshire.
Emergency services including paramedics, police and five fire crews rushed to the scene of the crash in Leominster at 6.40am today.
One passenger in the lorry, a man in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and another passenger were taken to hospital.
Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Police confirmed the building was empty at the time of the collision.
Shocking photos show how the impact caused significant damage to the building on Bridge Street and left the front end of the lorry a mangled wreckage.
The council vehicle is believed to have left the road at a mini roundabout between Bridge Street and Hill Street in the town.
Road closures were put in place in the surrounding area while a police cordon was put in place around the building.
Superintendent Helen Wain, of West Mercia Police, said: ‘Shortly after 6.40am this morning emergency services responded to a report a bin lorry had collided with a building in Mill Street in Leominster.
‘Three people were in the vehicle at the time of the collision and it has now been confirmed that sadly a man in his 60s, who was a passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘The driver and a second passenger were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital for treatment.
‘Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
‘The building was empty and no one else was injured.
‘On behalf of all agencies, our thoughts and condolences are with those involved and families affected by the incident.
‘A cordon remains in place while the fire service and local authorities continue to work to make the building safe.
‘Roads surrounding the building are closed and are expected to remain closed for some time.
‘We ask you to avoid Mill Street and the surrounding area and find an alternative route.’
Herefordshire Council confirmed a waste collection lorry had crashed into the house.
A council spokesperson said: ‘We are working with our partners to assess the situation.
‘We are asking people to avoid the area to allow the emergency services to safely carry out their work.
‘Our thoughts are with those involved in the incident and their families.
‘We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response.
‘Further updates will be issued when more facts are known.’
One local resident, who lives nearby but did not want to be named, said: ‘The noise of the impact woke us up this morning – it was absolutely horrific.
‘We’re just praying everyone is OK. It doesn’t look good.’
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We currently have two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), two Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) BASICS doctors, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and the Air Ambulance Critical Care Car from Strensham at the scene.’
A spokesperson for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Four Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews – two from Hereford and one each from Leominster and Tenbury Wells Fire Stations – were called at 06:44 on 11 November to an RTC into a building in Bridge Street, Leominster.
‘Police and Ambulance are also in attendance. The incident is ongoing.’
A spokesperson for Herefordshire Highways said: ‘Emergency services are dealing with a vehicle collision with a building at the Mill Street/Bridge Street roundabout.
‘Please avoid the area and follow diversions.’
