Pedestrian Critical after Being Hit by Police Van on Shepherd's Bush Green
Second serious accident in 24 hours, following crash in Askew Road yesterday
A pedestrian is in a "critical" condition after being hit by a police van on Shepherd's Bush Green at around 11.15am this morning, April 10.
The pedestrian, a man believed to be in his fifties, was hit at the junction of Shepherd's Bush Green and Rockley Road.
Scotland Yard say the van was travelling to help two police officers who had called for assistance, but it was not yet known if the sirens and emergency blue lights were in use.
Hammersmith and Fulham Police first reported the accident at around 11.30am today, tweeting @MPSHammful: "There has been a serious collision on Shepherd's Bush Green. Please avoid the area due to heavy traffic and road closures."
They added: "@LDNairamb and @Ldn_Ambulance are on scene at the serious collision on Shepherds Bush Green. There are several road closures and delays. "
And in response to a query this afternoon, they tweeted: "I can confirm that it was with a pedestrian."
Today's accident follows another serious collision which happened yesterday, April 9 at 4.45pm at the notorious junction of Askew Road and Uxbridge Road.
A cyclist suffered what police are describing as "life-changing" chest and leg injuries after being trapped beneath the back wheels of a six-tonne skip lorry for over an hour. Horrified eyewitnesses saw 46-year-old man being dragged beneath the fully-laden lorry as they both turned left from Uxbridge Road into Askew Road.
Emergency crews spent more than hour rescuing the cyclist who was then rushed to hospital with chest and leg injuries. The driver of the skip truck was questioned by police at the scene and was not arrested.
Picture: @tfltrafficalerts
Police said today the man was being treated in a central London hospital, where he is in a serious but stable condition.
Witness Joseph Sokhn told the Evening Standard: " I heard the bang and turned to see the truck and he was underneath it between the two back wheels. You could see his body squeezed in.The bike was behind the lorry completely crumpled, you couldn’t tell which part was the front.
"The lorry could not move because it would have crushed him. The driver looked horrified and was sitting in his seat.
"I don’t know how the man survived."
The accident caused gridlock along Uxbridge Road, which is one of London's main commuter routes.
April 10, 2014
