A routine patrol turned to catastrophe in the heart of Westminster this afternoon when a marked police car mounted the kerb and struck two pedestrians on Whitehall.
The dramatic incident, which occurred directly opposite the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, sparked a major emergency response, plunging the government district into lockdown.
Eyewitnesses described the moment the police vehicle, which was responding to an emergency call, suddenly swerved onto the pavement. The sound of crashing metal and screams filled the air as the two pedestrians were thrown to the ground.
Eyewitness Accounts: 'It Was Absolute Chaos'
One stunned onlooker, who was walking nearby, said the scene was one of "absolute chaos."
"The police car just seemed to lose control," they recounted. "It mounted the pavement with a huge noise and hit these two people who had no chance to get out of the way. It was horrific. Other officers and members of the public rushed over to help straight away."
Major Emergency Response
Within minutes, the area was swarming with emergency services. Air ambulance doctors, multiple ambulance crews, and fire engines raced to the scene to treat the casualties and secure the area.
Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance were seen providing advanced trauma care to the two victims at the roadside before they were rushed to a major trauma centre for further treatment.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are investigating the full circumstances surrounding the collision. The officers involved in the incident have been stood down from operational duties while the investigation is ongoing, standard procedure in such events.
A significant cordon remains in place on Whitehall, a street synonymous with British power, as crash scene investigators meticulously examine the area for evidence.
