Police officers face criminal probe over death of two people in crash

Two Metropolitan Police officers are under criminal investigation for potential driving offences after a heavily pregnant woman and her baby died following a collision with an unmarked police car in south-east London in October. 

The tragic incident happened in Eltham on the A20 near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road. 

Pictures taken on the day on the incident show the roof of the car scattered across the ground after it is believed firefighters were forced to cut through the vehicle to access the woman.

A second car can be seen in the image which also shows a police officer stood next to the vehicles.

Emergency service vehicles with blue lights were pictured at the scene with a police cordon set up around the incident.

An air ambulance descended on the scene but the woman's injuries were so serious she could not be saved. 

Two officers who were in the unmarked car were taken to a major trauma centre following the collision but were discharged. 

A mother and son who were driving directly behind the 38-year-old woman said the police car hit her blue VW Polo at high speed near the junction with Kidbrooke Park Road.

The mother said a wheel of the woman's car came off in the crash and the Polo's bonnet had ended up under her own vehicle.

'She stood no chance, there was no time for her to move, it could have been us, a few seconds later - there was no time to react, she said.

Her son added: 'They probably hit her at about 70 or 80 miles per hour, but that was once he'd braked, but coming down the road he was probably doing more.'

He said that the woman's husband was screaming at his dying wife to keep breathing, before he was taken back into the leisure centre by a member of the public.

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Locals left horrified by the crash, have raised concerns about the safety of Kidbrooke Park Road - with some describing it as a 'lethal trap'. 

The woman is the second person to be killed on the stretch of road in October.  

On October 1, a woman in her 60s died after she was hit by a motorbike while walking along Kidbrooke Park Road. 

In the wake of the incident, floral tributes  were left at the scene along with a candle and cards with one well wisher writing: 'My deepest thoughts are with you and your baby, your family and friends.' 

The note continued: 'The most awful tragedy that should never of happened [sic] and I hope your family get some justice.

'RIP beautiful lady and your baby.'

Abu Bakar, 34, claimed the woman was turning into the Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre when an unmarked police car 'driving on the wrong side of the road' collided with her.

He said: 'Four police cars had their lights on racing down the road. The speed they were doing - I've never seen anything like it. One of the cars hit her and she flipped three times. Her car was very badly smashed up.'

The eyewitness claims a man came running out of the sports centre shouting 'that's my wife' and 'she's pregnant'.

He said: 'The man rushed over and was shouting her name. He was telling police 'that's my wife', 'that's my wife' and ran over to her.

'I hoped she was going to be okay but then heard today that she'd died.'

A video captured by Mr Bakar showed the aftermath of the incident. A blue vehicle on the side of the road looks badly damaged and an unmarked black SUV police car has pulled over with flashing lights. 

Another eye witness told the Telegraph an unmarked police car, thought to be a black Volvo, had its blue lights and siren on at the time.

The unnamed witness said: 'I heard it before I saw anything, and I looked out of the window and I saw the unmarked police car.

'I didn't see it go into the other car, but it looked like it was doing some speed.

'The other car, a blue car, collided, flipped about three times across the pavement, and then turned upright and landed there.'

The woman's family have been informed of her death and are being supported by specially trained officers. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, in charge of policing in Greenwich, said: 'My heart goes out to the woman's family and friends who have lost their loved ones in these tragic circumstances.

'An investigation into the circumstances of this collision is under way by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will assist with their enquiries in any way we can.

'A road closure will remain at the scene today and I am grateful for the patience of the local motorists, who will need to use alternative routes.'

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said firefighters released two people who had become trapped as a result of the crash. 

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.