Waringstown: Woman injured as van crashes into kitchen

A woman in her 70s has described how she was knocked out of her chair on to the floor when a van crashed through the wall of her County Down home.

"When I looked up I could see the front of the van on my workbench," said Annie Burrell.

It happened at Clare Road, Waringstown, shortly after 21:00 GMT on Sunday. The car ended up in her kitchen.

The van crashed right through the kitchen window

Ms Burrell was treated for shock and minor injuries caused by glass. A man has been charged with driving offences.

The 27-year-old driver is due to appear in court on Tuesday, accused of dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol in his breath and failing to remain at the scene of a collision.

'Loud bang'

Ms Burrell said was sitting in a chair in when "all of a sudden my back window came in".

Ms Burrell said she heard a loud bang as the van plunged into her home

"There was a loud bang, maybe with the window breaking and I was knocked out of my chair onto the floor," she said.

"The water was running all over the floor."

She added: "I was concerned about whoever was in the van and whether they were badly hurt."

The van had careered through a fence and the garden before coming to a halt inside the building

Ms Burrell said she had been very frightened and felt "total disbelief" at what had happened.

But she added: "It could have been a lot worse."

Democratic Unionist Party MLA Carla Lockhart said: "I know this lady well and to see the pictures does bring home how shocking it was.

"It is fortunate this morning that we are not dealing with a fatality."