Police car was doing more than 70mph when it crashed into pregnant woman’s Polo to kill her and her unborn child, witness says
The police car that crashed into a pregnant woman’s Polo, killing her and her unborn child, was traveling at a speed of more than 70 miles per hour, a witness said.
The horror incident happened on the A20 in Eltham, south-east London, at around 6.15pm on Thursday, involving an unmarked Met Police car.
A mother and son 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 the collision caused a wheel of the woman’s car to come loose and the hood of the Polo to fall under her own car.
“She had no chance, there was no time for her to move, it could have been us 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 center after the collision. They have now been fired
Flowers were left at the scene this morning following the fatal accident on Thursday evening
Her son added: “They probably hit her at about 75 to 80 miles per hour, but that was once he hit the brakes, but as he came down the road he probably did more.”
He said the woman’s husband shouted at his dying wife to keep breathing before he was taken back to the leisure center by a member of the public.
It comes as locals, shocked by the accident, have raised concerns about the safety of Kidbrooke Park Road – with some describing it as a ‘death trap’.
The woman is the second person to die on the stretch of road in just a few weeks.
On October 1, a woman in her 60s died after being hit by a motorcycle while walking along Kidbrooke Park Road.
Local Charlie Fancy, 25, told News Shopper that speeding is a common problem in the area.
She said: ‘It’s scary when you try to cross the road, especially with a buggy as it just comes off the road. [A2] highway, so cars come around the corner very quickly.’
Another, who wished to remain anonymous, added: ‘The biggest problem is people coming off the motorway at 50mph in an area with a nursery and two schools, so it’s a bit of a death trap.’
It is not known if the unmarked police car was responding to an emergency incident at the time of the crash
Flowers on site near the A20 and Kidbrooke Park Road in Eltham, South East London
This map shows where the crash occurred in south-east London at 6.15pm on Thursday evening
It is not yet known if the police car was responding to an emergency when the woman and her unborn baby were killed.
A witness Abu Bakar, 34, claimed the woman was driving into the Sutcliffe Park Sports Center when an unmarked police car ‘driving on the wrong side of the road’ collided with her.
‘Four police cars drove across the road with their lights on. The speed at which they were going, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
‘One of the cars hit her and she rolled over three times. Her car was badly destroyed.”
A video taken by Mr Bakar after the crash showed a blue vehicle on the side of the road that looked badly damaged.
Another eyewitness told the Telegraaf that an unmarked police car, believed to be a black Volvo, had blue lights and sirens at the time.
The unnamed witness said: “I heard it before I saw anything, and I looked out the window and saw the unmarked police car.
‘I didn’t see him hit the other car, but it looked like he was speeding up a bit.
“The other car, a blue car, collided, went over the sidewalk about three times, then straightened up and ended up there.”
Firefighters reportedly had to cut the roof of the car to get to 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 a well-wisher who wrote: ‘My deepest thoughts are with you and your baby, your family and friends.’
The note continued: “The most terrible tragedy that should never have happened [sic] and I hope your family gets justice.
‘RIP beautiful lady and your baby.’
MailOnline has contacted police for comment.
Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing in Greenwich, previously said: “My heart goes out to the family and friends of the woman who have lost their loved ones in these tragic circumstances.
‘An investigation into the circumstances of this collision is underway by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will assist in any way we can with their investigation.
‘A road closure remains in place today and I am grateful for the patience of local motorists who will have to use alternative routes.’
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said firefighters released two people who were trapped as a result of the crash.