Police car hits teenager near Clapham Common in south London

A police car hit a teenager near Clapham Common in south London on Friday, witnesses told The Independent.

Several witnesses said the Metropolitan Police officers were responding to a fight when their car struck the 18-year-old male shortly after 3.30pm.

London ambulance services were called to the scene and the teenager was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Officers are still awaiting an update on his condition.

Isabelle, the victim’s friend, said: “He ran over... He was coming across the road to say hi to me.”

She said her friend is a 18-year-old student at Croydon College.

Another witness said: “The police car hit him and he flew into a bus and he dropped to the floor.”

She said there had been a “big fight” on the pavement of Clapham Road which police officers were driving towards when the car collided with the teenager.

A spokeswoman for Metropolitan Police said the Scotland Yard’s Directorate of Professional Standards – the body investigating the conduct of police officers – would be informed of the incident.

The spokeswoman said the car was travelling with its blue lights on while responding to an emergency call not related to the victim.

“Officers in a marked police vehicle were involved in a collision with a pedestrian in Lambeth,” she said.

“The collision happened at approximately 15:37 hours on Friday, 19 October on Clapham Road.

“Officers, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance are in attendance.

“The 18-year-old pedestrian has been taken to a south London hospital. We await an update on his condition.

“As a matter of course, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards will be informed.”