A worker says he saw paramedics give a C-section to a pregnant woman who died after being hit by a police car.
Abu Bakr said he saw the crash which he said happened after “three or four” unmarked police cars “with their sirens on” and at least two marked police motorbikes sped along the road in London. The incident happened on the A20, near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road, Eltham, at around 6.15pm on Thursday, October 17, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Tragically the heavily pregnant 38-year-old woman and her unborn baby died as a result of their injuries. It is unclear whether the police car was responding to an emergency at the time, and the Met said it would form part of its investigation, reports the Mirror.
Mr Bakr explained how an unmarked Volvo, with flashing lights, crashed into the woman’s blue VW Polo while she was waiting to turn right into Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre. The plumber had just finished working in a house opposite the scene and was putting his tools in his van.
He said: “The police cars were racing down the road towards the petrol station. I’d estimate they were doing between 70mph and 90mph. My van shook. They didn’t brake at all – they were just hoping she managed to turn in time before they hit her.
“The police cars were on the wrong side of the road. The woman’s car flipped three times. One of its wheels came off. It was shocking. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. I was in tears. She was turning from the main road into the leisure centre.
“Everyone heard the bang. Her husband came out of the leisure centre with their other child, aged about four, in his arms. He was holding his wife’s hand and saying her name ‘Mariam’. He was saying ‘she’s pregnant, she’s due next week’.
“I think the emergency services did a C-section on her in the road. They book the baby out so we thought the baby had survived. The police officers were in plain clothes. One had a polo shirt that said ‘Monte Carlo Country Club’ on it.”
London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade and London’s Air Ambulance all attended the scene.
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 inquiries in any way we can.
“A road closure will remain at the scene today and I am grateful for the patience of the local motorists, who will need to use alternative routes.”
Two officers who were in the unmarked car were also taken to hospital following the collision. They have since been discharged.
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