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Woman hit by police car in Walthamstow dies | Woman hit by police car in Walthamstow dies |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A 26-year-old refugee from Eritrea died when she was hit by a police car responding to a 999 call. | |
The pedestrian was struck by the marked vehicle on Forest Road, Walthamstow, east London, at 23:45 GMT on Tuesday. | The pedestrian was struck by the marked vehicle on Forest Road, Walthamstow, east London, at 23:45 GMT on Tuesday. |
Officers stopped and tried to help the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived, the Met said. | Officers stopped and tried to help the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived, the Met said. |
The YMCA St Paul's Group confirmed the woman had been a resident at YMCA Walthamstow for the past 18 months. | |
It said it was "shocked and saddened" by her death and was supporting its residents and staff with counselling. | |
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" and the police car windscreen "completely smashed". | |
Pav Kaur, who lives nearby, said there was "a very sombre atmosphere" in the area. | Pav Kaur, who lives nearby, said there was "a very sombre atmosphere" in the area. |
Police are trying to trace the woman's next of kin, who are thought to live outside the UK. | |
The car had been responding to reports of a man threatening members of the public, Scotland Yard said. | The car had been responding to reports of a man threatening members of the public, Scotland Yard said. |
By the time officers arrived the man had left the scene. | By the time officers arrived the man had left the scene. |
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has launched an investigation, said "two people apparently walked into the road" as the police vehicle travelled along Forest Road. | The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which has launched an investigation, said "two people apparently walked into the road" as the police vehicle travelled along Forest Road. |
"One of the pedestrians was struck and sadly passed away," the IOPC said. | |
At the scene | At the scene |
By Thomas Mackintosh, BBC London | By Thomas Mackintosh, BBC London |
Forest Road reopened shortly after 09:00 this morning and traffic has been flowing through like it would on any morning. | Forest Road reopened shortly after 09:00 this morning and traffic has been flowing through like it would on any morning. |
The remnants of blue and red police tape attached to a few lampposts are the only sign of what happened. | |
Residents of the YMCA where the victim was staying believe she was Eritrean. | Residents of the YMCA where the victim was staying believe she was Eritrean. |
They described seeing people looking visibly upset and crying this morning during breakfast. | They described seeing people looking visibly upset and crying this morning during breakfast. |
One resident told me the situation many of the residents living here are in meant they became close friends, which was why so many were shocked and saddened. | |
The Met said it had referred itself to the IOPC and informed its own Directorate of Professional Standards. | The Met said it had referred itself to the IOPC and informed its own Directorate of Professional Standards. |
There were 29 police-related fatalities on the roads in 2017-18, of which 17 were "pursuit-related", according to IOPC and eight involved police vehicles responding to emergency calls. | There were 29 police-related fatalities on the roads in 2017-18, of which 17 were "pursuit-related", according to IOPC and eight involved police vehicles responding to emergency calls. |
Five fatalities involved police vehicles hitting pedestrians while responding to an emergency call and one pedestrian death related to a pursuit. | |
In the previous year, 2016-17, were there 32 fatalities on the roads involving the police. Of those, 28 related to pursuits and none involved police responding to emergency calls. | In the previous year, 2016-17, were there 32 fatalities on the roads involving the police. Of those, 28 related to pursuits and none involved police responding to emergency calls. |
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said the woman's death was "terrible news". | Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said the woman's death was "terrible news". |