The police car that crashed into a pregnant woman’s Polo, killing her and her fetus, was going more than 110km/h, a witness said.
The horrific incident happened at around 6.15pm on Thursday on the A20 in Eltham, south-east London, and involved an unmarked Metropolitan Police vehicle.
A mother and son who were driving directly behind the 38-year-old woman said the police car crashed into her blue VW Polo at speed near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road.
The mother said that a wheel of the woman’s car came off in the accident and the hood of the Polo ended up under her own vehicle.
“He didn’t have a chance, he didn’t have time to move, it could have been us, a few seconds later, there was no time to react,” he said.
A 38-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn baby died after the vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an unmarked police cruiser.
Two officers who were in the unmarked car were taken to a major trauma center following the collision. They have since been discharged.
Flowers have been left at the scene this morning following the fatal accident on Thursday night.
Her son added: “She was probably hit at about 70 or 80 miles an hour, but that was once she hit the brakes, but going down the road she was probably doing more.”
He said the woman’s husband was shouting at his dying wife to keep breathing, before a member of the public took him back to the leisure centre.
It comes as locals horrified by the crash have raised concerns about the safety of Kidbrooke Park Road, with some describing it as a “death trap”.
The woman is the second person to die on that stretch of road in just a few weeks.
On October 1, a woman in her 60s died after being hit by a motorcycle while walking along Kidbrooke Park Road.
Local Charlie Fancy, 25, told News Shopper that speeding is a common problem in the area.
She said: “It’s scary when you try to cross the road, especially with a buggy because it just leaves the motorway (A2) so cars go around the corner very quickly.”
Another who preferred to remain anonymous added: “The main problem is that people come off the highway at 80 kilometers per hour directly into an area with a daycare and two schools, so it’s a kind of death trap.”
It is not known if the unmarked police car was responding to an emergency incident at the time of the crash.
Flowers at the site near the A20 and Kidbrooke Park Road in Eltham, south east London
This map shows where the crash occurred at 6.15pm in south-east London on Thursday night.
It is not yet known if the police car was responding to an emergency when the woman and her unborn baby died.
A witness, Abu Bakar, 34, said the woman was entering the Sutcliffe Park sports center when an unmarked police car “driving on the wrong side of the road” collided with her.
‘Four police cars had their lights on racing down the road. The speed they were going… I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said.
“One of the cars hit her and she overturned three times. His car was badly damaged.
A video filmed by Bakar after the accident showed a blue vehicle on the side of the road that appeared badly damaged.
Another witness told the Telegraph that an unmarked police car, believed to be a black Volvo, had its blue lights and siren on at the time.
The anonymous witness said: “I heard it before I saw anything, I looked out the window and saw the unmarked police car.”
“I didn’t see him hit the other car, but it looked like he was going at some speed.
“The other car, a blue car, crashed, went around the sidewalk about three times, then spun around and landed there.”
Firefighters were reportedly forced to cut the roof of the car to access the woman.
A supporter left this card: “My deepest thoughts are with you and your baby, your family and friends.”
Floral tributes have been left at the site along with a candle and cards with a well-wisher writing: “My deepest thoughts are with you and your baby, your family and friends.”
The note continued: ‘The most terrible tragedy that should never have happened (sic) and I hope his family receives some justice.
‘RIP beautiful lady and your baby.’
MailOnline has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing in Greenwich, previously said: “My heart goes out to the family and friends of the woman who have lost loved ones in these tragic circumstances.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is carrying out an investigation into the circumstances of this collision and we will assist with their investigations in any way we can.
“There will be a road closure at the site today and I appreciate the patience of local motorists who will have to use alternative routes.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said firefighters freed two people who had been trapped as a result of the accident.