Man seriously hurt as crash leaves car embedded in home Published duration 24 March 2013

media caption Neighbour Terry Howard said the collision sounded like "an explosion"

A man is seriously ill in hospital after a car crashed and ended up embedded in a house in Suffolk.

The red Audi TT left the road and crashed into the home in Long Meadow Walk, Lowestoft, at about 01:45 GMT.

The driver, believed to be in his 20s, suffered serious head injuries and had to be removed from the vehicle by emergency crews.

Three people were in the house at the time of the crash but no-one inside was injured.

The driver was taken to James Paget Hospital and has since been transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Terry Howard, who lives opposite the crash site, said he was awoken by "a really loud bang, similar to an explosion.

"I couldn't see much but flashing indicators in the driveway across the road."

Keith Shales, 66, who lives in nearby Cotmer Road, said: "When I got there and saw the car through the hole in the hedge I thought 'That looks serious'.

'Launch pad'

"I've seen photos of cars going into people's houses before but from the pavement, through the bushes and the cars behind it - it was like a launch pad - it must have been for him to get that high.

"I reckon he must be about four feet off the ground, I've never seen anything like it."

Structural engineers have been on site throughout the day to inspect the property. Police said the occupants had left the house while safety inspections continued.

Sgt Bob Patterson, of Suffolk Police, said investigators had been at the scene to assess how the accident happened.

"At this early stage we could not speculate as to what has caused the crash," he said.