Bellingham crash 'not being treated as hate crime' say police

A 25-year-old man remained in a critical condition in hospital today after a suspected drink-driver ploughed into a group of car wash workers.

The man, named locally as “Bobby”, was among four men and a woman, aged between 25 and 46, who were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital “for a range of head, chest and leg injuries”.

Shocked onlookers told how the victims were left sprawled on the pavement after the Mercedes careered into the crowd of workers outside Best Hand Car Wash in Bromley Road, Bellingham.

The driver was arrested by an off-duty policeman after allegedly attempting to flee on foot pursued by two of his victims.

Witnesses claimed the Mercedes driver had been a customer at the car wash and argued with staff before returning and smashing into the group.

He then fled, chased by two men — one soaked in blood — who yelled: “What the f*** have you done?”

Scotland Yard said it was “aware of reports” suggesting that the pedestrians injured by the car were deliberately targeted, but that while the investigation remained at a “very early stage, this incident is not currently being treated as a hate crime”.

The owner of a dealership next door today named three of the victims as Claudio, Bobby, and Anna.

Outside the car wash, a friend of Bobby’s said: “He’s in hospital, he’s very bad. It is horrible.

“What I understand is that the driver was coming straight from the traffic lights, and then he crashed into the big sign and afterwards the people. I think he wanted to do it.”

Witness Vincent Bakare, 30, said: “He had a big disagreement in the car wash.

“I’m not sure if he told them to ‘f*** off’ or they did. He zoomed off in his car.”

Colin Liddell, 29, added: “The car turned round, accelerated and hit the people. He intended to.”

The driver was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink-driving before being taken to hospital to be treated for a head injury.

He was today being questioned by detectives after being discharged into police custody.

Detectives from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command are investigating.

Any witnesses are asked to call officers on 101 or 0208 285 1574.​