A major emergency response was triggered in the heart of London's West End after a car mounted the pavement on The Strand, leaving two pedestrians with serious injuries.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, bringing a section of the busy thoroughfare to a standstill. Armed police were among the first on the scene, securing the area as paramedics from the London Ambulance Service rushed to treat the casualties.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos and confusion following the collision. The two injured pedestrians were treated at the location by emergency crews before being urgently transported to a major trauma centre for further treatment. Their current condition has not been disclosed.
Driver Arrested at the Scene
Metropolitan Police officers swiftly arrested the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident. A spokesperson confirmed that a person was "arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving" and remains in custody as enquiries continue.
Police have not indicated what led the vehicle to leave the carriageway and mount the footpath, which was busy with pedestrians at the time.
Major Traffic Disruption
The aftermath of the collision caused significant travel chaos during the afternoon rush hour. A large police cordon was established, closing a section of The Strand—a key route connecting the City of London with the West End—to all traffic and pedestrians for several hours.
Transport for London (TfL) issued warnings to commuters to avoid the area and seek alternative routes while emergency services conducted their work and forensic examinations took place.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage that may have captured the incident to come forward to assist with their investigation into the circumstances that led to this serious collision.
