Man killed in police vehicle crash sparked ‘carnage’, shocked witnesses say
Witnesses have described ‘carnage’ after a Met vehicle fatally struck a pedestrian opposite a police station.
The man in his 30s was hit on Borough High Street in south London just after 12.30am on Wednesday.
Police and paramedics battled to save his life but the man died at the scene, outside Southwark Police Station.
His next of kin have been informed and mourners have left flowers at the scene.
A card attached to one bouquet says: ‘My heart goes out to you and your family.’
A mother of three who lives in a flat overlooking the scene but did not want to be named told Metro: ‘I was up with the baby when I heard shouting and blue lights streaming along the road and into the flat. I looked out the window and there were police everywhere.
‘It was carnage. I thought there had been a terror incident or something. Then I saw paramedics trying to help someone but it was very dark.
‘I have since found out that it was a guy who died after a collision. We are all obviously very shocked and will be putting flowers there. As far as I know he did not live in my block.’
A stretch of Borough High Street was cordoned off for much of Wednesday as road traffic accident specialists trawled for evidence.
They assessed any skid marks left on the road and collected CCTV. There are multiple cameras outside Southwark police station which investigators can use.
A pub worker who had been returning home said: ‘I was on my bike and the whole road was cordoned off. I saw paramedics and police. I thought there may have been a stabbing or shooting.’
The police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation.
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A spokesperson said it was notified of the incident on Wednesday morning and began an independent investigation at about 04:20am.
It said in a statement: ‘We have sent investigators to attend the scene and the police post incident procedure, to begin gathering evidence.’
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