Farringdon crash: Woman riding pillion dies in 'horrendous' motorbike crash with taxi

A woman riding pillion died after being thrown from the back of a motorbike in a crash with a taxi.

Passers-by battled to save the victim, in her 40s, who was thrown ten feet down the road after the accident in Farringdon at 8.44pm on Tuesday.

Witnesses said the male rider of the motorcycle, who was also injured, was calling out her name in shock as she lay dying.

One witness, who arrived seconds after the crash, said: “A family were getting out of the back of the silver-coloured black cab as I arrived, completely shaken up.

“The motorbike was under the front of the taxi and the woman had gone flying off. She was lying face-down about ten feet further down the road.

“I saw a guy who was walking around limping and in shock who must have been riding the bike. His helmet was on the road.

“He was calling her name and speaking as though he knew her. It was just so awful. He clearly wasn’t processing what was happening."

He went on: “I asked someone to run around the bars asking for defibrillators but they didn’t have any.

“There were three of us giving her CPR. It felt like forever but I was only there for 15 minutes before paramedics came.

“I broke down walking home. It was so horrendous.”

The crash happened at the junction of Farringdon Road and Clerkenwell Road. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A Met spokeswoman said the driver of the taxi stopped at the scene and is helping officers with inquiries. He has not been arrested.

Detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are investigating.

Anyone who witnessed the crash should call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Alperton on 020 8991 9555 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.