A RAWDON pensioner has spoken of her lucky escape' after a 51-tonne lorry smashed through the wall in front of her house - killing its driver.

The accident happened just before 5pm on Friday when the articulated trailer vehicle - which had been parked and was carrying road-making equipment - rolled forward, hit a parked car and veered to the left.

It then crashed into a house in New Road Side, near its junction with Micklefield Lane.

A crane had to be used to lift the lorry so the victim's body, which was found by emergency services trapped between his vehicle and the house, could be removed and a section of the road, which is part of the A65, was closed for several hours.

The opening of an inquest yesterday at Leeds Coroner's Court heard that Michael Booker, a married 44-year-old from Bury, had been driving from Rochdale to Esholt Sewage Works, Leeds in an articulated vehicle laden with industrial machinery with another vehicle following behind.

The two vehicles are believed to have become separated as their respective drivers tried to find an alternative route or turning point.

Police were called to a report of Mr Booker's vehicle travelling along New Road Side without a driver just before 5pm. The lorry had careered down New Road Side and collided with a number of parked cars before coming to rest against a row of houses.

Upon searching the scene officers discovered Mr Booker lying on the doorstep of 3 New Road Side. He had suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The inquest was adjourned.

Officers have since been examining the scene as well as the left-hand drive lorry, and talking to witnesses.

The house that was hit escaped structural damage but a small stone wall at a neighbouring cottage was demolished. The wall's owner, pensioner Dilys Cartledge, 88, was sitting in her front room only yards away when the accident happened.

She said: "I didn't hear a thing at the time. It was only a few hours later when I saw floodlights shining through my window that I realised something terrible had happened."

Mrs Cartledge said when she looked out she saw four eight-wheel trucks outside one with arc lights and another with a huge crane positioned across the road.

"Then I saw the crashed lorry," she said. "It was flush against the cottage next door. The poor man wouldn't have had a chance.

"I think it was only my little wall that stopped it from coming into my cottage, I had a lucky escape.

"At about 9pm a policewoman came and told me to stay in my sitting room and not to go outside because something unpleasant was about to happen.

"I assumed they were going to take the victim's body away. I feel so sorry for his family."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said her partner had arrived home after the crash and what he saw "was traumatic".

Anyone who saw the accident can call the police on 0113 241 3459.