Greystanes: Garbage truck crashes into Bryce and Brigitte Elcock’s house at Jeffrey Ave
Watch the incredible moment an out-of-control garbage truck smashes into the front of a house into a room where their one-year-old baby usually sleeps.
A Greystanes family which cheated death when a garbage truck ploughed into the room where their baby usually sleeps is now scrambling to deal with looming financial burdens – including no home insurance – in the wake of the shocking crash.
A United Resource Management garbage truck crashed into Bryce and Brigitte Elcock’s four-bedroom property’s front bedroom – where daughter Giselle usually sleeps – on Tuesday morning when a council clean up was under way.
Cumberland Council contracts URM to look after its rubbish removal around the local government area.
Footage shows the driver chasing after the truck as it charges towards the Jeffery Ave home where, along with the baby, Brigitte was at home with her younger sister Giselle who also lives in the house.
The impact caused the front wall to push into the internal hallway, leaving authorities to declare the site a condemned house.
“You don’t wish it upon your worst enemy, that’s for sure,’’ Mr Elcock said. “It’s definitely caused a lot of trauma. My wife is suffering quite bad emotionally. All last night she was waking up hearing truck noises.’’
Grateful the ordeal could have been worse, the family is now scrambling to get back on its feet financially.
The family’s home insurance expired in January and, for the first time since they have lived in the red brick property over the past five years, had not got around to renewing it.
“We’ve always had house insurance and this year we let it lapse with the cost of living pressures, and then this happens,’’ Mr Elcock said.
The family has been told URM’s insurance company will pay for the damage occurred in the front room but that might not cover the rest of the split-level house, which has been deemed structurally unsafe with a risk the roof will collapse.
In the short term the young family is living with Mr Elcock’s parents in the same street but is searching for a house to rent with it highly unlikely their house will be habitable.
Engineers have indicated it could take two years to repair while the lack of insurance means it could take longer
“I don’t believe it could be structurally repaired to what it once was and, even if they were to repair it I don’t think I’d feel comfortable or safe in the property again,’’ Mr Elcock said, adding it was unfortunate after “blood, sweat and tears” went into their home.
“We’re trying to find a rental at the moment so we can try and enjoy Christmas break,’’ he said.
Their friend and neighbour Jason Sotiris has organised a GoFundMe fundraiser to assist the family with essentials including baby items, food and temporary accommodation.
“Brigitte and Bryce are a hard working young family who suddenly find themselves with nowhere to stay just days before Christmas,’’ Mr Sotiris said.
“They are now focused on keeping their child safe while dealing with the uncertainty of what comes next.’’
Mr Elcock remains relieved his only child is safe just before her first birthday next Friday.
“Being the father as well, being at work, it was one of the scariest phone calls I’ve never had because if it eventuated she was sleeping there … for some reason, God bless, she wasn’t in that room that night.’’
Cumberland Council and URM have been contacted for comment.
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Originally published as Greystanes: Garbage truck crashes into Bryce and Brigitte Elcock’s house at Jeffrey Ave
