Woman killed after car hits tree in Fortune Green Road

Published: 27 May 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

A WOMAN was killed and her passenger injured when the car she was driving smashed into a tree in West Hampstead on Sunday.

The 55-year-old died at the scene in Fortune Green Road just after 4am, roughly an hour after her car, a silver Lexus, collided with a tree outside West Hampstead police station. 

A passenger, 51, was taken to an east London hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers on the night shift at the police station were the first on the scene, arriving seconds after the crash happened.

Damage to the front and driver side meant she had to be cut from the car by fire fighters but once freed ambulance staff could not save her, despite carrying out emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the pavement. 

Neighbours living in the quiet street described being woken by a loud bang just after 3am and rushing out of their homes to see what had happened.

One witness, whose home is opposite where the accident took place, said: “We looked outside and there were three police officers running to get to the car and a few minutes later an ambulance came and four fire engines. Firemen had to cut the door to get the woman out.”

It is not yet known why the crash occurred and a specialist collision unit based at Alperton Garage has appealed for witnesses. 

Anyone with information can contact detectives on 020 8998 5319.