Police car collides with motorcycle in east London: six injured
Two men hit by flying debris when a police car and motorcycle collided are in a serious condition in hospital, Scotland Yard has said.
A 27-year-old biker, two police officers and four pedestrians were hurt in the collision in Poplar, east London, yesterday.
The motorcyclist was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition with suspected head and leg injuries, but his condition has since stabilised.
One pedestrian initially thought to have suffered only minor injuries has deteriorated and is now in a serious condition at an east London hospital, as is a second man.
Two other men injured near the scene have been discharged from hospital, as have the men and women police officers.
The collision happened at around 1.20pm at the junction of Cotton Street and Poplar High Street as police responded to the activation of an automatic number plate reading.
The incident has since been referred to the Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Witnesses described the front end of the police car being "totally destroyed" in the collision and paramedics treating a patient on the ground for around 25 minutes before he was taken away.
Personal trainer Juta Steel said she heard a loud bang from outside the gym where she works.
"We came out and there was the police car with a smashed front and windscreen and then about 50
metres away there was a motorbike.
"There was one person in the road. It looked like he was unconscious and the ambulance came and worked on him for around 25 minutes. Then the air ambulance came. Before they took him away he seemed to be moving so I assume he was conscious."
The road has since been reopened. Scotland Yard said no one has been arrested, and asks for witnesses or anyone with information to call police on 0208 597 4874 or 101.
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