Police Pursuit and Crash Incident
Five individuals sustained serious injuries and a woman was arrested following a collision involving a vehicle pursued by police in east London.
The Metropolitan Police reported that officers attempted to stop a car they suspected was stolen. The vehicle failed to stop, initiating a police chase shortly after 00:30 BST on Saturday.
The pursued car collided with another vehicle at the junction of Barley Lane and High Road in Ilford, according to the police. In total, ten people were injured, including occupants of both cars and a moped rider. Nine of the injured were transported to hospital, with five remaining in serious condition.
The driver, a woman in her 20s, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, theft, and failing to stop.
Emergency services, including paramedics and the London Air Ambulance, attended the scene.
The woman arrested as the driver of the pursued vehicle remains hospitalized.
Additional Arrests
Four passengers from the same vehicle—a woman in her 40s, a 14-year-old girl, and two men in their 20s—were also arrested on suspicion of being in a stolen vehicle.
Eyewitness Account
Farhan, an employee at Flames Pizza Oven located opposite a Tesco Extra, described hearing a police siren followed by a loud bang around 00:30.
"I ran outside and saw several police cars heading east along High Road in Goodmayes, from Seven Kings towards Chadwell Heath, and believed they were pursuing a vehicle."
"I then saw two men, who appeared to be in their early twenties, get out of the car I believed was being previously followed. Both looked injured."
Emergency Response
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service stated that ambulance crews, an incident response officer, a joint response unit, an advanced paramedic practitioner, members of the Hazardous Area Response Team, and the air ambulance were dispatched to the scene.
"We treated 10 patients at the scene and took nine to hospital. One person declined further aid," the spokesperson added.
Ongoing Investigation
The road remains closed in all directions while investigations continue.
Police have requested that anyone with information regarding the incident come forward and contact them.
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