Woman killed and two injured after van crash in central London

A woman in her 20s has died and two people have been injured after they were hit by a van in central London.

The Metropolitan Police said they were called to the crash near the Strand at 11.41am following reports of a collision close to Somerset House.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene and two other pedestrians were taken to hospital, one with potentially life-threatening injuries and the other with minor injuries.

The driver of the van, a 26-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and drug-driving.

Police said the incident is not being treated as terror-related and that a crime scene remains in place while inquiries continue.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called today (Tuesday) 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 was pronounced dead.

“We took two other people to hospital and one was discharged at scene.”

Ali, a PhD student at King’s College London, who did not wish to share his surname, was leaving class when he saw emergency services gathered near the scene.

“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.”