A LORRY driver from Newton Abbot was rushed to hospital this morning after his 25-tonne concrete pump truck smashed into a cottage in Liverton.

The casualty, in his 20s, is said to have escaped life-changing injuries when his vehicle flipped over on its side and careered into Benedict Cottage, damaging its front porch.

The property on the main road into Liverton, near its junction with Benedicts Road, was occupied at the time. No one inside was hurt.

They did not wish to comment from the scene.

One witness said after the 6.15am drama: ‘The lorry was totally written-off. It was very lucky it didn’t take out the whole of the cottage. I can’t see how the accident happened.’

Police immediately closed off the area while paramedics ferried the driver to Torbay Hospital.

A spokeswoman confirmed the Essex-registered lorry suffered substantial damage in the crash.

She added: ‘The man’s injuries are not said to be life-changing. He was able to get out of the vehicle, on its side, through a window of the HGV.’

The accident did not affect nearby Blackpool Primary School with all pupils able to get to their lessons on time.

Two recovery vehicles were at the scene later to lift the wrecked vehicle from its final resting point.

Local residents have complained that heavy and speeding traffic is a constant source of annoyance on the stretch of road in question.

There is no evidence at this stage that the affected lorry was speeding.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

The road was closed off with diversions set up around the crash site.

A witness said part of the road and kerbside was also heavily damaged in the accident.

Police said anyone who saw what happened should contact them on 101, quoting log 106 of September 10.