Armed police and ambulances rush to ‘car accident’ near Somerset House in central London
18 March 2025, 12:37 | Updated: 18 March 2025, 13:56
A woman in her 20s died in the crash. Picture: AlamyA woman has been killed after a van hit three pedestrians on the Strand, with a man arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. Loading audio...
The woman who died was in her twenties. She was pronounced dead at the scene, which is a pedestrianised area near King's College London.
Police said two others were injured.
One of the two survivors had life-threatening injuries, with the other suffering minor injuries.
The van at the scene of the crash. Picture: Alamy
A view of a police tent and the gates at King's College London Strand Campus, Bush House North. Picture: Alamy[1]The driver, a man aged 26, was arrested for causing death by careless driving and for driving with drugs above the specified limit.
Police also said the incident was not terror-related.
Picture date: Tuesday March 18, 2025. Picture: Alamy[4] "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." Two fire engines and three ambulances were also present on the scene. A large part of the area was cordoned off as emergency services dealt with the incident. Traffic restrictions were also in place in the wider area. A student at nearby King's College London said: "No one knew what was going on. Lots of police tape, shouting and everyone sort of just stood there." Incident occurs on The Strand in London They added: "We saw people lying down with people with ambulances around them... Everyone's kind of shocked, I guess". A PhD student said he was shocked by what had happened.
Police at the scene. Picture: LBC
The scene on Tuesday. Picture: LBC
People near to the scene of an incident involving a van in The Strand, central London.
The scene on Tuesday. 
The scene of an incident involving a van in The Strand, central London.Picture date: Tuesday March 18, 2025. Picture: Alamy[5]
People by the police cordon. Picture: Alamy
"I was just walking out of class... at first I was disoriented, I thought it was a protest because it usually happens, but it's something else entirely," Ali said.
"(Now knowing a woman has died) is so sad and hard to process - my thoughts go out to her family and friends.
"We walk by that crossing all the time and it's pedestrianised, barely any vehicles pass."