Several People Injured As Man Drives Car Into A Busy Shop

Audi smashed straight through the front of Costa Coffee  SWNS

An elderly man and woman were reportedly pulled out of the Audi car after it ploughed into the cafe in Westerham, Kent, eventually stopping once the vehicle was fully inside the shop.

Emergency services treated victims at the scene and a spokesperson confirmed a 70-year-old woman had been killed.

The driver and passenger were reportedly conscious after the crash.

One witness said a lady had been drinking a coffee when she "flew off her chair and over the counter".

The woman who
died in the incident had been visiting her family for Christmas, according to reports.


Passer-by Tony Lincoln described the carnage left by the crash, saying "it was almost as if a bomb had gone off".

He was sitting at another coffee bar about 10ft away when out of the corner of his eye he saw "a black flash which was obviously the car mounting the pavement followed by a huge bang".

Horrified shoppers watch as victim sits in shock near crash site  SWNS

He crossed the road and forced open the door of the Costa shop which was jammed with debris. The room was clouded with dust and someone inside was almost hysterical.

Saying he had never seen "anything as horrific as that", Mr Lincoln told Sky News: "It was carnage in there. I was not aware of anybody lying around injured."

Another witness said: “An old man lost control of the car and ploughed straight into the shop. And then we could see people being carried out.

“I saw one elderly lady who was covered in blood and had cut her head open. Another elderly lady was trying to leave and was crying and sobbing.”

Local man Peter Thornley tweeted: "Someone has just driven a car straight into costa coffee in Westerham. Madness."


Another witness, Matt Jenner, told KentOnline: "A car has driven into the side of Costa, the whole car is inside.

"Westerham is cut off. There are sirens everywhere."

Sally Pendleton added: "There was a man still in the car - he seemed OK but a few people were hurt and in shock."

A woman receives medical attention after the crash in Westerham, Kent  SWNS

A spokeswoman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "Our clinicians treated six patients in total, including one patient who was sadly pronounced as deceased at the scene. Five further patients were treated at the scene and then taken to hospital.


"Two patients, an adult male and female, were taken by ambulance to St George's Hospital in London, both with serious injuries.

"Two further patients, an adult male and female, were taken by ambulance to the Princess Royal Hospital in Farnborough - again both with serious injuries.

"An adult female with minor injuries was also taken by ambulance to Pembury Hospital."

Crash scene outside the Costa Coffee shop  Twitter / @sally_pendelton

A police spokesman confirmed: "Kent Police was called to reports a car had collided with a property in The Green, Westerham.

"Officers, Secamb (ambulance) and KFRS (fire brigade) are at the scene and there are a several reported injuries.

"The road has been closed."

A Costa Coffee spokesman said he was aware of the incident and that "thoughts are with everyone involved".


(Culled from www.thesun.co.uk)