LIVE: Woman in her 20s dies after ‘van hit three people’ near The Strand in central London
18 March 2025, 12:48 | Updated: 18 March 2025, 13:33
Armed police and paramedics have gathered in central London after an incident near Somerset House.
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Officers at the scene told LBC that the incident on Strand was a car accident, although this has not been formally confirmed yet.
Two fire engines and three ambulances were also present on the scene, which is on the pedestrianised area near King's College London.
Follow our live blog for updates.
Emergency services leaving the scene
As the emergency response winds down at the Strand, that's all for our coverage today.
One dead and two injured after incident, says ambulance service
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.”
Van driver was in 'pedestrianised' area for students
Our reporter, Fraser Knight, spoke to a Kings student who questioned why the van driver was allowed to access such a "social and public" area.
He said: "We had no worries before, but now that a van could come in so easily, it begs the question of how this happened and how the van was even allowed access to such a social and public area. You know, there are a lot of questions to be asked."
Woman in her 20s dead and man arrested on suspicion of drug driving
One woman died in the crash and two others have been injured. Police said a man, 26, had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and drug driving.
Police said in a statement: "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. "
Travel disruption after incident
The incident on the Strand has caused significant travel disruption.
The Strand is closed to road traffic westbound. Two bus routes - the 9 and the 23 - have also been diverted.
TfL has advised passengers to expect delays.
Road closures after van hits people
The Strand is currently closed from Surrey Street westbound to Waterloo Bridge.
Bus routes 9 and 23 have been affected, with diversions put in place around the Aldwych area.
Transport for London has advised commuters to expect delays and rerouting along The Strand and surrounding streets.
Incident not terror related, say police
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a van has crashed into a number of pedestrians on the Strand.
Police also said the incident was not terror-related.
Police erect forensics tent near van thought to be involved in crash
Police have erected a tent next to the van that is thought to be the vehicle involved in the accident.
