Three people have been rushed to hospital following a ‘rickshaw and bus crash’ in Central London on Bank Holiday weekend.
The collision, which left three individuals with injuries, occurred shortly after 1am on August 25 in the heart of London’s West End.
Emergency services were quickly sent to the scene following reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Charing Cross Road and Phoenix Street.
Ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic and a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance were just some of the dispatchers called to the incident.
In a statement, London Air Ambulance confirmed that of the three people treated, one patient was taken to a major trauma centre, while the other two attended local hospitals.
A spokesperson for the service added: ‘We were called at 1.07am today (25 August) to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Charing Cross Road and Phoenix Street.
‘We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, 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.
‘We treated three people. We took one patient to a major trauma centre and two patients to local hospitals.’
Three people have been rushed to hospital following a ‘rickshaw and bus crash’ in Central London on Bank Holiday weekend. The collision occurred shortly after 1am on August 25
Emergency services were quickly sent to the scene following reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Charing Cross Road and Phoenix Street. Ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic and a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance were sent to the scene
In a statement, London Air Ambulance confirmed that of the three people treated, one patient was taken to a major trauma centre, while the other two attended local hospitals
Following the incident, Charing Cross Road was closed, with diversions put in place for the N29, N20, N5, N279 and 24 bus routes towards Trafalgar Square.
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
Concerns have previously been raised over the safety of rickshaw bikes, prompting Transport for London (TfL) to launch an official consultation into the dangers, alongside other issues of anti-social behaviour by its drivers and rip-off prices.
Illegal traders and pedicabs on Westminster Bridge have been fined more than £20,000 in a council crackdown after fleecing tourists.
Figures in July showed that nine pedicabs operators – several repeat offenders – were hit with some of the biggest individual fines totalling £9,075.00 following the latest round of rickshaw bikes prosecutions.
The riders’ fines, costs, and victim surcharges ranged from £750 to £1,460 under the Control of Pollution Act 1974.
Given the repeat prosecutions, the council is exploring options such as injunctions or banning orders for the more prolific riders.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection Cllr Aicha Less said: ‘This is Westminster, not the Wild West. These fines send a clear message: if you break the rules in our city you will end up out of pocket and out of excuses.’
A London Air Ambulance spokesperson said: ‘We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, 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’
Concerns have previously been raised over the safety of rickshaw bikes, prompting Transport for London (TfL) to launch an official consultation into the dangers, alongside over issues of anti-social behaviour by its drivers and rip-off prices (file image)
‘Whilst we work with TfL to finalise a structured licencing scheme, our City Inspectors continue to prosecute pedicab drivers and partner with our neighbours in Lambeth and in the Metropolitan Police to ensure unsuspecting tourists are not ripped off.’
In TfL’s consultation which opened on January 27, they said one of the main aims for regulating pedicabs in London was to ‘make them as safe as possible’, ensuring they are ‘driven in a safe and professional way’.
They are also proposing licensing requirements similar to taxis and private hire vehicles, meaning a pedicab driver’s licence would be required, issued for one year at a time.
In 2022, a man was charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision between a car and a pedicab in south-east London.
Sophie Strickland, 31, of Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, was killed when the car hit the pedal-powered vehicle in Southwark during the tragic incident on July 10, 2022.
Luis Balcazar Soto, in his 30s, was driving up to 56mph in a 30mph zone when he hit Sophie Strickland’s pedicab in a bus lane in New Kent Road, Southwark.
Ms Strickland, 31, of Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.30am after suffering significant head and neck injuries.
A court previously heard that Ms Strickland had been visiting the capital to celebrate her birthday, with both she and her friend Jade Redford travelling in the pedal-powered taxi.
In TfL’s consultation which opened on January 27, they said one of the main aims for regulating pedicabs in London was to ‘make them as safe as possible’, ensuring they are ‘driven in a safe and professional way’ (file image)
In 2022, Luis Balcazar Soto (pictured) was charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal collision between a car and a rickshaw in south-east London
Sophie Strickland (pictured), 31, of Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, was killed when the car hit the pedal-powered vehicle in Southwark during the tragic incident on July 10, 2022. Police investigators estimated Soto to be travelling between 45 and 56mph when he hit the rickshaw
The pair had stopped to use a nearby cash machine. Then, just moments after Ms Strickland got back into the pedicab, Balcazar Soto’s car smashed into the rickshaw, throwing her from the vehicle.
Prosecutor Fiona Robertson told Southwark Crown Court how witnesses saw ‘a silver car travelling 60mph swerve into bollards and land by the Tesco Express on New Kent Road.
She said: ‘It collided with the rickshaw and spun around. There was no evidence of braking or evasive action prior to impact.’
A taxi driver had described seeing Soto accelerate harshly at the roundabout by Elephant and Castle at 3:47am and commented: ‘Oh my God, I’ve got this mentalist in front of me driving like a mad man.’
Police investigators estimated Soto to be travelling between 45 and 56mph when he hit the rickshaw.
‘Ms Strickland was catastrophically injured and the defendant was aware of it,’ said the prosecutor.
‘He made no effort or attempt to assist Ms Strickland or Mr Ahmed. It is significantly telling that people had to chase after him to stop them escaping.’
When approached by members of the public, Soto said: ‘Let me go or I’ll fist you up,’ and tried to punch a witness.
Luis Fernando Balcazar Soto, then 24, was initially sentenced to nine years and nine months in jail. But this was later quashed at the Court of Appeal and replaced with a 12 year and nine months sentence. Pictured: Sophie Strickland
Soto even offered money to a member of the public as he begged for them to let him go. He was twice the legal limit of alcohol.
‘He was sweating and his eyes were bloodshot,’ the prosecutor said.
When told of Ms Strickland he became hysterical saying: ‘I can’t believe I killed her’ and ‘I’m so sorry.’
Sophie’s mother Glynis said in an impact statement she had lost ‘the most beautiful thing in my life.’
Ms Strickland said: ‘Never seeing her again is killing me. As a mother I cannot imagine any greater pain in my life. She was a kind and loyal person and in seconds my life was destroyed.’
Luis Fernando Balcazar Soto, then 24, was initially sentenced to nine years and nine months in jail.
This was later quashed at the Court of Appeal and replaced with a 12 year and nine months sentence following a referral to the court by the Solicitor General, Michael Tomlinson KC MP, who argued that the sentence was unduly lenient.
