Lorry smashes into house and pub in ‘catastrophic accident’ in historic town

A lorry driver was rushed to hospital after his HGV veered off the road and ploughed into a house and pub in Shropshire, leaving both buildings partially destroyed.

The dramatic crash unfolded in Bayston Hill near Shrewsbury, where the heavy goods vehicle smashed into a residential property before careening into the Three Fishes pub, reducing sections of both structures to rubble.

Emergency crews worked for an hour to free the trapped driver, who suffered a broken leg in the incident.

The incident occurred at approximately 5.30am yesterday on the A49 Hereford Road in the Shropshire village.

The lorry first struck a house situated next to a takeaway before continuing its destructive path into the local pub.

The impact caused severe structural damage, with shocking footage from the scene showing partially collapsed buildings and widespread debris.

The A49, a major route through the area, has been closed since the early morning crash.

Emergency services spent an hour at the scene working to free the trapped lorry driver from his cab.

The driver, who sustained a broken leg in the collision, was subsequently transported to hospital in Shrewsbury for treatment.

A family who were inside the house at the time of the crash managed to escape without injury, despite the significant damage to their property.

James Duerden, landlord of the Three Fishes, described the devastating impact on his establishment.

“It was a great local pub, part of a community, and now we’re left with just a pile of rubble,” he told the BBC.

Duerden said a “good quarter” of the pub had been destroyed, including an upstairs bedroom.

The landlord added that all his stock was damaged due to a power cut following the crash, noting he hadn’t expected to find a “fully loaded articulated vehicle in the back of the pub”.

West Mercia Police have indicated the A49 will remain closed for an extended period following the incident.

The major road closure continues to affect traffic in the area, with authorities advising motorists to seek alternative routes.

The full extent of structural damage to both the residential property and the historic pub is still being assessed, as debris clearance operations continue at the scene.