A driver was killed and a child is fighting for their life after a lorry ploughed into parked cars and a house today.
Several people were injured in the horror smash on a suburban street in Kidbrooke, south east London, during the morning rush hour.
Police, firefighters, paramedics and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene at around 8am.
Emergency crews confirmed the lorry driver died at the scene and an 11-year-old child is in a ‘life-threatening’ condition.
The child was on the school run with his father when the green truck ploughed into them, according to witnesses.
A lorry driver has died and an 11-year-old child has been rushed to hospital following the crash in Kidbrooke, south east London, at around 8am this morning
The lorry is understood to have hit a number of cars before crashing into a house
The crash has left one driver dead and a youngster fighting for their life in hospital
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the scene was ‘utterly tragic’
London Fire Brigade said it appeared a lorry had collided with two cars and crashed into a house, causing structural damage to the building.
Station commander Nathan Hobson said: ‘Specialist Urban Search and Rescue crews attended the scene and efforts were made to free the lorry driver but sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.’
The London Ambulance Service treated a further three patients. One was taken to a major trauma centre, one was taken to hospital, and one was discharged.
A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the scene was ‘utterly tragic’ after the lorry crashed just 30 metres from his home.
‘About 8am when I was preparing school run for my kids, all (of a) sudden police, ambulance siren, helicopter sound went on,’ he said.
‘Local traffic was controlled by police, then I heard people are talking about a lorry crashed into local house… then someone was sent off (in an) air ambulance.
‘Bit emotional myself right now after hearing an 11-year-old is in a serious condition.
‘It’s utterly tragic – my thoughts are with their loved ones.’
One neighbour said she heard a loud bang that sounded like ‘an earthquake’
Aerial images from the scene show the trail of devastation. According to onlookers, the lorry hit a child who was en route to school
The London Ambulance Service treated a further three patients. One was taken to a major trauma centre, one was taken to hospital, and one was discharged.
Emergency services at the scene of devastation in south east London this morning
One woman, who asked not to be named, told the PA news agency: ‘I was asleep at the time because my baby kept me awake in the middle of the night, until about 4.30am.
‘So I woke up and just heard a loud bang – it sounded like an earthquake.’
The 35-year-old builder, who did want to be named, would have been inside his leased grey Peugeot Partner van setting off for work had the crash happened 10 minutes later.
His vehicle had been parked outside his home when the lorry smashed into it and caused it to drag a grey Volkswagen Passat into a neighbouring wall.
He said: ‘I was just getting ready to go to work when I heard this huge smash. I looked out and my van was destroyed.
‘It’s only a piece of metal – just a van which is replaceable. But another 10 minutes and I would have been dead had I been inside it.’
Locals said the family were not in the house when the lorry smashed into the front room.
One neighbour said: ‘They’re so fortunate. It could have been an unthinkable tragedy had they all been home.’
Police were called to Kidbrooke, south east London , around 8am this morning to reports of a collision involving multiple vehicles and a building
The youngster was flown to hospital by air ambulance following the crash on Monday morning
London Fire Brigade said it appeared a lorry had collided with two cars and crashed into a house, causing structural damage to the building
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘An 11-year-old child was taken to hospital. Their condition has been assessed as life-threatening.
‘Two males have been taken to hospital. We await an update on their condition.
‘Sadly one man has been declared dead at the scene. Work is ongoing to trace their next of kin. Road closures are in place and the public are asked to avoid the area.’
Firefighters from Lee Green, Eltham, Bexley, Croydon and East Greenwich fire stations were also at the scene.