Tributes pour in to ‘amazing’ pregnant mum & her unborn baby killed in horror crash with police car ‘going at 70mph’
TRIBUTES have been left to “the most amazing wife and mummy” after a woman and her unborn baby died in a horror cop car crash.
The incident happened on the A20, near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road in Eltham, south-east London, at around 6.15pm on Thursday.
A pregnant woman, 38, and her unborn baby died as a result of their injuries.
Flowers in tribute to the woman named only as Mariam have been left outside Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre.
One tribute reads: “Mariam – the most amazing wife, mummy, daughter, sister and friend.
“Having you in our lives was such a blessing. You were a real life angel on earth and our lives will never be the same again.
“We promise to always look after your family.
“Baby – we never got to meet you but we know that you and mummy are together looking after each other you will always be in our hearts.
“Sleep tight our friend and bubba. We love you beyond words.”
It comes as a witness claimed that the unmarked Met Police car was being driven at more than 70mph.
A mum and son who were driving directly behind the woman claimed that the cop car hit her blue VW Polo at high speed near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road.
The mother told the Mail a wheel of the woman’s car came off in the crash.
She said: “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.”
Her son said: “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.”
Witnesses told The Sun that the woman’s husband running out of the nearby sports centre on Kidbrooke Park Road yelling ‘that’s my wife’ at around 6.15pm on Thursday evening.
London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and London’s Air Ambulance all attended the scene in Eltham , south east London on Thursday night around 6.15pm.
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing in Greenwich, 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.”
The IOPC is now appealing for witnesses as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
A spokesman previously said: “The driver, and sole occupant, of the vehicle was a heavily pregnant woman.
“Sadly, the woman and her baby died.
“The collision happened at around 6.15pm on Thursday 17 October when an unmarked police vehicle was involved in a collision with the member of public’s vehicle on the A20, near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road, SE9.
“We were notified by the force and sent investigators to the scene and post-incident process to begin gathering evidence.
“We are gathering CCTV footage, obtaining data from the police vehicle and liaising with the coroner’s office.
“The woman’s next of kin have been informed and we have spoken with them today and will keep them updated as our investigation progresses.”
IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have died and all of those affected by this tragic incident.
“It is important we establish all of the circumstances surrounding this incident and our investigation is in its very early stages.
“This is a busy road, and the collision happened in the early evening when people are likely to have been travelling.
“We would like to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity at the time and may have witnessed the incident or the moments leading up to it.
“Anyone who saw anything or has footage is encouraged to get in touch with our investigators.”