Family issue update on destroyed home that’s become a Bristol ‘attraction’

‘It has been a bit of a slog’
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A family have spoken about their ‘absolute bloody nightmare’ after a bus smashed into their house and left them homeless four months ago. Hayden and Kay Rich, and their son Joshua, were in all inside when the First bus ploughed into the detached home on December 15.

Miraculously, no-one was in the bathroom, hallway or kitchen and the family survived the huge impact unhurt - but they have been displaced and are now still living in a property just 400 yards from their house in Highridge Road, Bishopsworth.

And while the driver of a car which hit the bus before it careered into the house was jailed for 18 months last week, the Rich family are still waiting on work to start on rebuilding their home, which has now become an attraction in the area.

Speaking to Bristol World, Hayden, aged 59, said the rebuilding of the home was in the hands of an insurance company. He said: “It has been a bit of a slog - I’m afraid it’s not the most simple of things to obviously sort out.

Joshua Rich outside the home on the morning after a bus hit it - today it still stands severely damagedJoshua Rich outside the home on the morning after a bus hit it - today it still stands severely damaged
Joshua Rich outside the home on the morning after a bus hit it - today it still stands severely damaged

“We have had the structural engineeer and the repairs needed are horrendous. The front elevation has pretty much all gone and the ceilings and upstairs all need to be repaired. The roof is also unstable.

“Bits have also continued to fall off. It it wasn’t for the back extension we put on, I’m told the house will have had to be pulled down and started again - it’s that which has kept it together and made it repairable.

“We want work to start - however, these things take time. I’m told work will take between 24 and 25 weeks, and that it could start in May which could mean moving back in in January or February.”

The house today - scaffolding surrounds the front due to falling itemsThe house today - scaffolding surrounds the front due to falling items
The house today - scaffolding surrounds the front due to falling items

Hayden said the crash and the continuing detoriation of the home had made it an attraction in the area. “You see people still slowing down and taking photographs outside - it’s become a sort of attraction I suppose. But we’ve been well supported by everyone.”

Hayden and Kay, 57, were both in the lounge watching television when the bus hit their home. Fortunately, no-one was in the kitchen or downstairs toilet which were both impacted by the crash.

Their son, Joshua, 27, was upstairs in his bedroom. He also escaped the crash and described the sound of it like ‘an explosion’.

The First bus severely damaged the home and forced the Rich family to move outThe First bus severely damaged the home and forced the Rich family to move out
The First bus severely damaged the home and forced the Rich family to move out

At Bristol Crown Court last week, Laurence Salaou, 23, was jailed after admitting dangerous driving during the incident. He was at the wheel of the VW Golf which hit the bus prior the smash.

The court hearing heard how Salaou’s Golf was seen speeding in a 20mph zone and going through a red light before colliding with the bus, which swerved into the house.

Mr Rich said: “18 months isn’t enough really - I said he should have got five years. It’s not just about the damage, it’s the fact he could have killed someone. Yes, we’re now going through an absolute bloody nightmare - but we got lucky too.”