Woman in her 20s dies and two pedestrians rushed to hospital after van ploughs crowd of people in Central London – as police arrest man, 26, in connection

A woman has died and two others have been injured after a van crashed into multiple people on The Strand in London, the Met has said.

A woman in her 20s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, with two other people taken to hospital.

The Met said one of those injured is in a ‘life-threatening’ condition, while the other has only minor injuries. 

In a statement, the force said a 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving and careless driving. 

Police said the incident, which happened at around 11:50pm close to the entrance to King’s College London and Somerset House, was not terror related.

Photographs taken at the scene showed paramedics at least one person on the floor. Multiple ambulances and police cars are currently at the site.

A grey van with damage to the front and bonnet sits behind a police cordon.  

The London Fire Brigade is also in attendance, and said two fire engines and 10 firefighters are currently at the scene. 

Photographs from the scene show at least one person being treated by paramedics on the ground

Witnesses have reported that the van collided with a group of pedestrians, but it is not yet known if anyone is severely injured

A screen is erected by emergency services at the scene in central London

Paramedics have been seen appearing to load one person on a stretcher into an ambulance

Emergency responders are pictured at the scene after police set up a wide cordon

Paramedics, police officers and firefighters were all scrambled to the scene just before lunchtime on Tuesday

Witnesses have reported that the van collided with a group of pedestrians, with some saying this was a group of young women. 

In a statement, the Met Police said: ‘Police are on scene and dealing with a collision close to The Strand, WC2.

‘Officers were called at 11:41hrs on Tuesday, 18 March following a collision involving a van and pedestrians.

‘Three pedestrians suffered injuries, with a woman in her twenties sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital, one has potentially life-threatening injuries, and the other has minor injuries.

‘The driver of the van, a 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion causing death by careless driving and driving with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit.

‘He remains in custody. Enquiries are ongoing and a crime scene is in place.

‘This collision is not being treated as terrorism-related.’

A blue forensics tent is pictured at the scene of the crash – the driver has been taken into custody

Shocked witnesses were seen sitting on the ground as they were supported by police officers

A woman is comforted near the scene of the crash, which occurred just before 12pm on Tuesday

Two fire engines were initially sent to the scene of the crash, but have now understood to have been stood down

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called today (Tuesday 18 March) at 11.39am to reports of an incident in The Strand, WC2.

‘We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, an incident response officer, a clinical team manager and London’s air ambulance.

‘We treated four people at the scene. Sadly, despite our best efforts one person died. We took two people to hospital and a fourth person was discharged.’

The Strand is currently shut to traffic from Surrey Street westbound to Waterloo Bridge. 

Bus routes 9 and 23 have also been affected.

A forensics blue tent has been erected close to the crashed van, and police officers were seen with a large quantity of tarpaulin. 

Students at the university were left horrified by the inicident. Ali, a PhD student at King’s College London, was leaving class when he saw emergency services gathered near the scene in central London where a woman in her 20s has died after being hit by a van.

The 28-year-old said he initially thought emergency services were there for a protest outside the university, until he saw ambulance workers carrying stretchers.

‘I was just walking out of class… at first I was disoriented, I thought it was a protest because it usually happens, but it’s something else entirely,’ he said.

‘[Now knowing a woman has died] is so sad and hard to process – my thoughts go out to her family and friends.

‘We walk by that crossing all the time and it’s pedestrianised, barely any vehicles pass.’

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 2771/18MARCH. 

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.