Car crashes happen every day. Tens of thousands of people die in crashes each year in the US alone and, unfortunately, some of the victims are pregnant women. In fact, a pregnant mom and her unborn baby are dead after an unmarked police car smashed into her vehicle in the UK.
The details at this point are still sparse. What is certain is that the lives of the woman’s friends and family members are forever changed by the crash that recently happened on a busy highway in southeast London. Let’s take a closer look at this tragic incident.
More from LittleThings: Mom And Teen Son Killed In Head-On Collision Coming Back From His College Orientation
A news release from the Metropolitan Police Service noted the fatal crash happened on October 17, 2024, just after 6 p.m. in the London district of Eltham. Allegedly, an unmarked police car crashed into a “member of the public’s car” on one of the city’s main roads. A pregnant woman was an occupant of the other vehicle.
Tragically, the pregnant mom and her unborn baby died in the crash. “A heavily pregnant woman, aged 38, who was in the car, and her unborn baby sadly died as a result of their injuries,” the news release noted. “Next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.” Police have not named the woman who died.
Additionally, two officers in the unmarked car were taken to a hospital for injuries sustained during the crash but have since been discharged.
“My heart goes out to the woman’s family and friends who have lost their loved ones in these tragic circumstances,” Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry said in the news release.
He added, “An investigation into the circumstances of this collision is under way by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and we will assist with their enquiries in any way we can.”
More from LittleThings: Woman Recalls Hug She’ll ‘Never Forget’ After Picking Up Baby Killed In Drunk Driver Crash
The IOPC confirmed to the BBC that it is investigating the incident.
“It is important we establish all of the circumstances surrounding this incident and our investigation is in its very early stages,” IOPC regional director Mel Palmer told the outlet. “This is a busy road, and the collision happened in the early evening when people are likely to have been travelling.”
“This is a terrible tragedy, and my heart goes out to the family of the victims,” Clive Efford, Labour Member of Parliament for Eltham and Chislehurst, told the BBC. “The incident is now under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and there are many questions that I will be putting to them which I hope they will be able to answer in their final report.”
