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Walthamstow crash: Woman dies after being hit by Metropolitan Police car responding to 999 call in London

Twenty-six-year-old Eritrean refugee killed as officers respond to reports of man threatening people in street

Chris Baynes
Wednesday 23 January 2019 08:57 GMT
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Police in Forest Road, east London, after a 26-year-old woman was killed by a police car
Police in Forest Road, east London, after a 26-year-old woman was killed by a police car

A 26-year-old refugee has died after being hit by police car responding a 999 call in east London.

The Eritrean woman was struck by the car in Forest Road, Walthamstow, at about 11.45pm on Tuesday, Scotland Yard said.

Officers stopped at the scene and gave first aid to the woman before an ambulance and air ambulance arrived. Paramedics fought to save her life but she was pronouncd dead in the street.

The woman is understood to have been living at YMCA Walthamstow for the last 18 months.

A spokesman for the association said: "The YMCA St Paul's Group is shocked and saddened by this news and wishes to extend its condolences to the family and friends of the resident.

"YMCA Walthamstow is supporting its residents and staff with counselling. Flowers have been laid at the site of the incident on Forest Road today by residents and staff, led by the YMCA chaplaincy team."

The Metropolitan Police said it was attempting to make contact with the victim's next of kin, who are believed to be outside of the UK. The force had initially said the victim was aged 21.

The marked car involved in the collision had been responding to an emergency call about a man threatening members of the public in Walthamstow. The man had left by the time officers arrived, police said.

Images and video posted to social media a little after midnight show at least five police cars and two ambulances near a pedestrian crossing near to Waltham Forest Council.

Flowers have been left at the scene of the collision

Officers can be seen performing CPR in one video, before being joined by paramedics in later footage. A third video shows officers holding a blanket to shield the scene from public view.

Gilbert James, 44, who lives on Forest Road, said he "heard a loud bang and police sirens". When he came out to investigate he said he "saw the person lying on the floor".

There was a "big impact" and the police car windscreen had been "completely smashed," according to Mr James.

"The police officer driving appeared in shock" but "no police officers appeared injured", he added.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct and the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards have been informed of the woman’s death.

Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, tweeted: “Terrible news this morning that a young woman has been killed on Forest Road in Walthamstow after a fatal collision involving a police vehicle.”

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