A pedestrian has died after he was hit by a police vehicle in one of London‘s most popular tourist destinations.
The man in his 30s was knocked down by the marked car on Borough High Street shortly after 12.30am on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Police officers behind the wheel of the car were responding to an emergency 999 call when the tragic collision occurred.
Paramedics rushed to the scene but despite their best efforts the man was pronounced dead.
A large police presence remains in place. The man’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have launched an investigation into the incident and the Met’s own Directorate of Professional Standards has also been informed.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: ‘At 00.34am on Wednesday, 7 January a marked police vehicle was on an emergency call when it was involved in a collision with a pedestrian on Borough High Street, Southwark.
‘The pedestrian, a man in his 30s, was given emergency first aid by officers before being treated by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service. Despite their best efforts, the man sadly died at the scene.
The man in his 30s was knocked down by the marked car on Borough High Street shortly after 12.30am on Wednesday
The man in his 30s was knocked down close to Borough Market in the early hours of Wednesday morning
The Metropolitan Police officers behind the wheel of the car were responding to an emergency 999 call when the tragic collision occurred
‘His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Cordons remain at the location and local traffic is being disrupted.
‘As is standard practice, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards was informed about the incident, as has the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
‘The IOPC has begun an independent investigation and officers will continue to support them and their enquiries.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 12.34am today (7 January) to reports of a road traffic collision on Borough High Street, SE1.
‘We sent resources to the scene including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic, a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance.
‘Our first paramedic arrived on scene in less than four minutes.
‘Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a patient was pronounced dead at the scene.’