A lorry driver crashed into a wall at a historic church in Shrewsbury today after his satellite navigation system took him down the wrong route.
The lorry struck the wall at St Mary’s Churchyard, in St Mary’s Street, which is a listed monument, after following directions down the narrow road.
Check out our photo gallery below
Lorry driver Paul Watts said he had been following his sat nav which directed him down St Mary’s Place, opposite Drapers Hall Restaurant.
He said: “Before I knew it, it was too late and I hit the wall and did not have enough room.
“I will never again trust my sat nav. I’m going to use the A to Z,” he added.
St Chad’s Church is responsible for the wall and the Reverend Mark Thomas said he had been to see the damage shortly after it happened at 7.30am.
“He’s knocked off a complete corner, completely demolished it,” he said. “The driver has admitted responsibility because of traffic and partly because of the sat nav.”
Repairs will be organised by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council’s conservation section. A spokesman said the wall was classed as an emergency repair because of its location, but that it should be a “straightforward procedure”.
The spokesman said he did not know how much repairs would cost until a full inspection had been made.
A spokeswoman for Shropshire County Council’s economy and environment department said: “A lorry following the town centre diversion route by St Mary’s Place hit the wall by the church this morning at about 7.30am.
“As the wall is Grade II listed we are currently awaiting advice from the conservation officer.”
See Also:
Vigil for stricken cat 
Painting shows panorama of town in 1630s 
Region’s dogs collar top awards at Crufts 
Great turnout for soldiers’ parade 
Decision due over town development 
17 Comments
The driver sent the lorry down the road – not the sat nav.
Any lorry driver should know that standard sat nav devices are set up for use by cars, and that their directions should be treated with caution in a truck.
Report abuse
The sat nav did not “send the driver down a narrow road this morning” – the driver made the decision to drive down St Mary’s Street. The driver is accountable for his driving.
Report abuse
Regrettably this does the reputation of lorry drivers no good at all. After all is it not said that a “poor craftsmen blames his tools!”
Report abuse
St Mary’s Street is also designated as the A5191. If you’re in unfamiliar territory, using a paper map to navigate, wouldn’t you choose the A roads as a safe option?
It’s too easy to jump on the bandwagon and automatically blame the satnav.
Report abuse
Prat nav strikes at the heart of Shrewsbury!
Report abuse
i do hope the bill for repairs will find its way to the sat nav company
Report abuse
lorries drive down st mary’s street often.
they dont knock walls down normaly.
sat nav or not.
Report abuse
“It was the Sat Nav, honest!” Lorry drivers, please take note:
1) Stop using Sat Nav systems designed for car drivers.
2) YOU cause the crash, NOT the Sat Nav. (What did it do? Suddenly rear up and bump your arm?)
3) If a road suddenly looks too narrow for your vehicle -then it IS too narrow! Stop and call for help. Don’t carry on until you get stuck in a ditch or wreck an historic monument.
Report abuse
The satnav did not sent the lorry crashing into the church wall. Satan did.
Report abuse
Jake – yes St Mary’s Street is the A5191. This lorry was turning off that road onto St Mary’s Place… which is little more than a lane.
Report abuse
its only a bit of superficial damage! no problem
Report abuse
THEIRS DRIVER’S AND THEIRS DRIVER’S SHREWSBURY EASY TO GET ROUND WITH AN ARTIC I KNOW DONE THAT BEEN THERE
Report abuse
From one HGV Driver to another…………You Muppet
Report abuse
Dont trust sat navs at all., took my daugther wrong direction a couple o months back in Kidderminster, and thats not all a Chec truck driver was on the A53 last saturday coming through loggerheads nr market drayton and he turned into a residentail estate, my quick thinking daughter stopped him as he turned his huge truck, he reversed back onto the a53, and then proceeded to drive on the wrong side of the road for a least 500 yds! the foriegn drivers need to learn how to drive on our roads before more people are killed, never mind destroyed walls.
Report abuse
one day a sat nav will send a 44 ton lorry up the burway and onto the longmynds, or is this wishful thinking
Report abuse
Linda Mitchell
do UK drivers need to learn to drive in other countries before doing so?
if not why do you believe that a foreigner needs to learn to drive on UK roads? Oh yes, it’s because he’s a foreigner.
Report abuse
I’m very sorry this happened. My parents were married at St. Mary’s during the World War II, and after the war came to the United States. We have made many a pilgrimage to this lovely ancient church, and are grieved to know of this unfortunate incident. At the same time, I wish the driver to know that I am grateful that he was not hurt in the incident.
Perhaps these global positioners are not quite perfected, and we do need to remain alert to our surroundings while driving.
Report abuse