Police car was doing more than 70mph when it crashed into pregnant woman’s Polo to kill her and her unborn child, witness says
Published: 10:05, 19 October 2024 | Updated: 10:05, 19 October 2024
The police car that crashed into a pregnant woman’s Polo killing her and her unborn child was being driven at more than 70mph, a witness has said.
The horror incident happened at around 6.15pm on Thursday on the A20 in Eltham, southeast London[2], and involved an unmarked Met Police[3] car.
A mother and son who were driving directly behind the 38-year-old woman said the police car hit her blue VW Polo at high speed near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road.
The mother said a wheel of the woman’s car came off in the crash and the Polo’s bonnet had ended up under her own vehicle.
‘She stood no chance, there was no time for her to move, it could have been us, a few seconds later – there was no time to react, she said.
A heavily pregnant woman, 38, and her unborn baby have died after the vehicle they were in was hit by an unmarked Met police car
Two officers who were in the unmarked car were taken to a major trauma centre following the collision.
They have since been discharged
Flowers have been left at the scene this morning after the fatal Thursday night crash
Her son added: ‘They probably hit her at about 70 or 80 miles per hour, but that was once he’d braked, but coming down the road he was probably doing more.’
He said that the woman’s husband was screaming at his dying wife to keep breathing, before he was taken back into the leisure centre by a member of the public.
It comes as locals, left horrified by the crash, have raised concerns about the safety of Kidbrooke Park Road – with some describing it as a ‘lethal trap’.
The woman is the second person to be killed on the stretch of road in just a matter of weeks.
On October 1, a woman in her 60s died after she was hit by a motorbike while walking along Kidbrooke Park Road.
Local Charlie Fancy, 25, said told News Shopper that speeding is a common issue in the area.
She said: ‘It’s scary when you’re trying to cross the road, especially with a buggy because it’s just coming off of the [A2] motorway so cars come really fast around the corner.’
Another who wished to remain anonymous added: ‘The main problem is people coming off the motorway at 50 miles per hour straight into an area with a nursery and two schools so it’s a bit of a lethal trap.’
It is not known if the unmarked police car was responding to an emergency incident at the time of the crash
Flowers at the scene near the A20 and Kidbrooke Park Road in Eltham, south-east London
This map shows where the crash happened at 6.15pm in south-east London on Thursday night
It is not yet known if the police car was responding to an emergency when the woman and her unborn baby were killed.
One witness Abu Bakar, 34, claimed the woman was turning into the Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre when an unmarked police car ‘driving on the wrong side of the road’ collided with her.
‘Four police cars had their lights on racing down the road.
The speed they were doing – I’ve never seen anything like it,’ he said.
‘One of the cars hit her and she flipped three times.
Her car was very badly smashed up.’
A video filmed by Mr Bakar after the crash showed a blue vehicle on the side of the road looking badly damaged.
Another eye witness told the Telegraph an unmarked police car, thought to be a black Volvo, had its blue lights and siren on at the time.
The unnamed witness said: ‘I heard it before I saw anything, and I looked out of the window and I saw the unmarked police car.
‘I didn’t see it go into the other car, but it looked like it was doing some speed.
‘The other car, a blue car, collided, flipped about three times across the pavement, and then turned upright and landed there.’
Firefighters were reportedly forced to cut through the roof of the car in order to access the woman
One well wisher left this card: ‘My deepest thoughts are with you and your baby, your family and friends’
Floral tributes have been left at the scene along with a candle and cards with one well wisher writing: ‘My deepest thoughts are with you and your baby, your family and friends.’
The note continued: ‘The most awful tragedy that should never of happened [sic] and I hope your family get some justice.
‘RIP beautiful lady and your baby.’
MailOnline has contacted the Met Police for comment.
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing in Greenwich, previously said: ‘My heart goes out to the woman’s family and friends who have lost their loved ones in these tragic circumstances.
‘An investigation into the circumstances of this collision is under way by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will assist with their enquiries in any way we can.
‘A road closure will remain at the scene today and I am grateful for the patience of the local motorists, who will need to use alternative routes.’
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said firefighters released two people who had become trapped as a result of the crash.
References
- ^ Olivia Christie (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Police (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Met Police (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)