Lorry flips car into air in crash outside Natural History Museum

Driver who witnessed collision on Exhibition Road describes fearing the hatchback was going to 'come through his window'
The aftermath of the crash outside the V&A Museum (Picture: Twitter/@samir_afzal)
Sebastian Mann12 May 2015
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A driver has described the dramatic moment a car was thrown in the air and almost crashed on top of his Rolls Royce in the heart of London's museum district this afternoon.

Pictures from the scene of the collision on Exhibition Road, outside the Natural History Museum, showed a hatchback flipped on to its roof after apparently being hit by a lorry as it turned a corner. Later video footage showed firefighters righting the vehicle.

Businessman Mohamad Ridha told how he and other bystanders rushed to the aid of two stricken women as they banged on the windows from inside their upturned car after it was hurled skywards.

"I was behind the car as it waited in traffic," the 30-year-old told the Standard after the 2pm incident.

"A truck came round the corner and had forgotten to close his back door.

"Everyone was waving and beeping to try and warn him.

"The metal ledge that was hanging down, it banged into the car and got stuck under its front, dragged it a little way then lifted it up in the air and threw it on to the floor.

"It hit the front of my car. I think it'll cost about £20,000 or £30,000 in repairs.

"It all happened so fast. I was very shocked - we were thinking the car was going to come through the window."

He added: "When it happened I stopped, I was trying to help the two females inside the car.

"They were banging on the doors and windows asking for help.

"We got them out. They were shocked and didn't believe what had happened.

(Picture: Mohamad Ridha)

"I've never seen something like this in my life."

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene shortly after 2pm this afternoon.

Footage captured in the aftermath of the crash showed the London Fire Brigade using manpower to right the overturned car.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 14.22pm to reports of a car flipped on to its roof, with paramedics treating two women for minor injuries.

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