Six people hospitalised after fire engine and car in collision on A12

SIX people were taken to hospital after a car and a fire engine were involved in a major collision.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash that left both vehicles seriously damaged.

Three of the casualties were taken to a major trauma centre, with the others taken to hospitals.

The crash on the A12, at the junction with Barley Lane, at Chadwell Heath, near Romford, east London, happened at just before 9am today<Aug 25> and affected traffic on the dual carriageway in both directions.

London ambulance crews, an air ambulance and another fire engine, as well as police, were all sent to the scene.

Police officers were still at the scene at 4pm as an investigation into the cause of the crash continues.

The black Honda Hybrid was left crushed into the side of the fire engine, with air bags deployed, while the fire engine appeared to have mounted a kerb near traffic lights.

An onlooker, who took pictures and video of the scene, said: "The scene was still taped off hours after the crash, it must have been serious. the Honda was almost unrecognisable it was so badly damaged."

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Police were called to a report of a collision between a car and a fire engine on the junction of Eastern Avenue and Barley Way, Redbridge at 8:59am on Monday, 25 August.

"Six people were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service for assessment and are all being treated as non-life-threatening or life-changing.

"An investigation is ongoing into the circumstances of the collision."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 8.59am today to reports of a road traffic collision between a car and a fire engine near Barley Lane.

"“We sent multiple resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an incident response officer and paramedics from our hazardous area response team (HART). We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

"We treated six people at the scene. We took three patients to a major trauma centre and took three patients to hospitals.”

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters responded to a road traffic collision on Eastern Avenue at the junction of Hainault Road in Romford.

“The Brigade was called at 0857 to the incident which involved a fire engine and a car. Six people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.”

Witnesses or anyone with any information or footage is asked to contact police by calling 101 or post on X ‘@MetCC’ quoting CAD 2092/25Aug.