A devastating accident unfolded in central London on Tuesday morning when a van collided with a group of pedestrians on The Strand, tragically claiming the life of a woman in her 20s and leaving two others injured.
Incident Details
The crash occurred around 11:50 am, near the entrance to King’s College London and Somerset House.
The Metropolitan Police responded quickly, confirming that one of the victims had died at the scene.
The two other injured individuals were rushed to the hospital, with one reported to be in critical, life-threatening condition, while the other sustained minor injuries.
A fourth person was treated at the scene but did not require hospitalization.
Witnesses described the terrifying moment, with one passerby, Josh, recounting hearing a loud ‘bang’ followed by screams.
He added that the van, which had just emerged from a nearby service yard, collided with the group as it entered The Strand.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
The driver of the van, a 26-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drug driving and careless driving.
The police have confirmed that the collision is not being treated as terrorism-related.
Authorities have set up a crime scene and are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Emergency Response and Community Shock
Ambulance teams, including advanced paramedics and the London Air Ambulance, arrived shortly after the incident, attempting to save the victims’ lives.
Despite their best efforts, the woman was declared dead at the scene. The two injured individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The London Fire Brigade also responded, with two fire engines and around ten firefighters attending the site.
Firefighters assisted emergency services in managing the scene until their work concluded shortly after 1:00 pm.
Local Reactions
The tragedy has left local residents and students at King’s College London reeling.
Ali, a PhD student at the university, described the moment he saw the emergency services gathered near the crash site.
Initially thinking it was a protest, he was later shocked to learn of the fatality. He expressed his sorrow, saying, “It’s so sad and hard to process. My thoughts go out to her family and friends.”
Traffic Disruptions
As a result of the incident, The Strand has been closed to traffic from Surrey Street to Waterloo Bridge. Bus routes 9 and 23 are also being diverted, causing significant disruption to the usual flow of traffic in the area.
Call for Information
The police have urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward.
Individuals can contact them on 101 or post on Twitter using the handle @MetCC with the reference CAD 2771/18MARCH.
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the potential dangers that pedestrians face, even in pedestrianized areas, and has left a community in mourning as they await answers to the cause of the accident.