Serious crashes in Watford and the surrounding areas
The more serious accidents have seen police, ambulance, air ambulances and the fire service heading to the scene.
Below we round up some of the worst recent recent collisions in our area:
Air ambulance
A41 crash
A man was arrested after a six-vehicle crash involving lorries left a woman with potentially life-changing injuries[1].
The collision, described by one person as “gruesome”, was on the A41 on August 21 between Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley.
A scene from the crash. (Image: Submitted)
Emergency services, including reportedly three air ambulances, rushed to the stretch approaching the M25 at 10.10am.
Herts Police originally said the crash was between two lorries and a car, but later said it is believed six vehicles were involved.
Emergency services at the scene of the crash (Image: Submitted)
Herts Police then confirmed that a 44-year-old man from Ilford, Greater London, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has since been bailed as enquiries continue.
The Woods
An air ambulance was called[2] when a car crashed into a tree in The Woods at the junction with Sandy Lane in Northwood just before 1.55pm on July 13.
Emergency services including the fire service and an air ambulance were called but the driver, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thorpe Cresent
Police were called at around 1.24pm on August 2 to a crash between a Honda motorcycle and a Ford Focus on the junction of Thorpe Cresent and Eastbury Road in Watford.
Officers attended along with the ambulance service[3], air ambulance service and the fire and rescue team.
An air ambulance was seen landing in a field in Hampermill Lane, Watford. (Image: Karen Newland)
The motorcyclist, who is in his teens, sustained injuries which are currently not deemed to be life threatening or life changing and was taken to hospital by road.
Life-changing injuries
Cyclist injured
A man has been arrested following a crash between a van and a cyclist.[4]
It happened just before 8.45am on Friday, August 18, on the A41 junction with the A405, Watford.
Officers said the crash was on the northbound carriageway with the cyclist riding a silver and black bike, and the van was a white Ford Transit Connect.
The cyclist, a man in his 20s from Hemel Hempstead, remains in hospital with serious injuries.
Police confirmed the van driver, a 26-year-old man from Luton, was arrested at the scene in connection with the incident.
He has since been released on police bail while enquires continue.
Elderly pair injured
Two pensioners were seriously injured when a car crashed into a wall.
A turquoise Suzuki Vitara was travelling west along College Road in Abbots Langley[5] on Saturday, August 19, when it left the carriageway at the roundabout junction with Tibbs Hill Road.
It happened at 12.50pm and left the driver, a man in his 80s, and the female passenger in her 90s, badly injured.
The pair were rushed to Watford General Hospital for treatment.
Overturned cars
Police chase
A 23-year-old was arrested after a Range Rover hit a tree and flipped onto its side[6].
The man was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, driving whilst disqualified, and having no insurance after a police chase in Tolpits Lane, Watford, at 5.20pm on August 8.
Tolpits Lane (Image: Submitted)
A black Range Rover with no number plates had failed to stop for officers in Charlock Way before the “driver clipped a tree and flipped onto its side”, Herts Police said.
The male driver, the car’s only occupant, was uninjured.
Car on its roof
A car ended up on its roof[7] after a crash in a road that locals fear has become an accident hotspot.
Pictures emerged after the Vauxhall lost a wheel and overturned near the junction of Langley Road and Langwood Gardens in Watford.
Langley Road (Image: Submitted)
Herts Police had been called to the crash at around 12.15am on Sunday, August 13, and later confirmed that “there were no injuries that required immediate hospital treatment”.
The vehicle “took out” a bus stop sign, according to a passer-by.
Langley Road (Image: Submitted)
Upon seeing the result of the crash, locals raised concerns about the stretch appearing to be a hotspot for accidents, due to other recent collisions.
References
- ^ six-vehicle crash involving lorries left a woman with potentially life-changing injuries (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)
- ^ air ambulance was called (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)
- ^ Officers attended along with the ambulance service (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)
- ^ crash between a van and a cyclist. (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)
- ^ travelling west along College Road in Abbots Langley (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)
- ^ Range Rover hit a tree and flipped onto its side (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)
- ^ car ended up on its roof (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)