The pregnant mum died in the horror crash in Eltham, southeast London, that involved an unmarked police car – it is unclear if the officers were responding to an emergency
A woman who said she witnessed the horror crash in Eltham, southeast London, that killed a heavily pregnant woman and her unborn baby, has claimed officers were driving at “about 70 or 80mph.”
The heavily-pregnant woman and her unborn baby died following the horror crash on the A20 near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road at about 6.15pm on Thursday.
Following the crash, the Metropolitan Police confirmed an unmarked police vehicle had been involved in the collision. It is not clear whether the officers in the vehicle had been responding to an emergency at the time.
The Met Police said it launched an investigation into what happened. A woman who was laying tributes at the scene of the crash tonight said she believed the unmarked car was traveling at 70-80mph.
She also revealed that she had been contacted by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and is set to give a statement in the next few days. She said she was in her car, right behind the victim’s car, while waiting to make the same turn into Sutcliffe Park Leisure Centre when the crash happened.
The woman who asked not to be identified told the Mirror: “The police car probably hit her vehicle at about 70mph or 80mph, but I think they had been travelling faster than that before they braked.
“She stood no chance. If we hadn’t stopped at a traffic light or somewhere else for a few seconds it could have been us – it was terrifying.
“The car just went flying. It smashed over on its roof and went over three times. We went over to her after the crash and she was breathing.
“Her husband came running out the gate by the leisure centre with their daughter and was screaming her name and talking to her. He said to her to carry on breathing. Someone took the daughter away into the park. I think she was aged about six or seven.
“They put sheets round the woman while the trauma team worked on her. They said they were delivering the baby. When they left we asked if they had survived, but they said they didn’t know. It was only today that I found out when my friend told me. I just feel so sorry for the man. He was expecting a new baby in a week and now he’s lost half his family.”
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.”
The Mirror has contacted the IOPC for further comment.
