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| Costa coffee crash: One dead, five hurt, as car hits Kent cafe | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A woman died and five people were hurt when a car ploughed into a coffee shop. | A woman died and five people were hurt when a car ploughed into a coffee shop. |
| The woman, aged in her 70s was declared dead at the scene after the Audi crashed into Costa on The Green, Westerham, Kent at 10:30 GMT. | |
| South East Coast Ambulance (Secamb) said five more people were taken to hospital, four with serious injuries and one with minor injuries. | South East Coast Ambulance (Secamb) said five more people were taken to hospital, four with serious injuries and one with minor injuries. |
| The A25 is closed in both directions while police investigate what happened. | The A25 is closed in both directions while police investigate what happened. |
| 'People in shock' | 'People in shock' |
| Sally Pendleton, who is visiting Westerham for Christmas, arrived at the scene five minutes after the crash. | Sally Pendleton, who is visiting Westerham for Christmas, arrived at the scene five minutes after the crash. |
| She said the car had gone through a plate glass window. | She said the car had gone through a plate glass window. |
| "We walked past and saw a car had just been lodged straight inside Costa Coffee," she said. | "We walked past and saw a car had just been lodged straight inside Costa Coffee," she said. |
| "There was a man still in the car and probably about 12 people by the side of the Costa looking very much in shock. | "There was a man still in the car and probably about 12 people by the side of the Costa looking very much in shock. |
| "There were a few people who had been hurt and quite a few elderly people as well. | "There were a few people who had been hurt and quite a few elderly people as well. |
| "It's a horrible thing to have happened, on Christmas Eve of all days. | "It's a horrible thing to have happened, on Christmas Eve of all days. |
| "Westerham is quite a quiet, sleepy area usually." | "Westerham is quite a quiet, sleepy area usually." |
| 'Driver lost control' | 'Driver lost control' |
| Secamb said a man and woman, both seriously injured, were taken by ambulance to St Georges Hospital in Tooting, south London. | Secamb said a man and woman, both seriously injured, were taken by ambulance to St Georges Hospital in Tooting, south London. |
| Another seriously injured man and woman were taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Farnborough. | Another seriously injured man and woman were taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Farnborough. |
| A woman with minor injuries was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital. | A woman with minor injuries was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital. |
| Police have set up a witness centre at The Grasshopper public house in Westerham High Street. | Police have set up a witness centre at The Grasshopper public house in Westerham High Street. |
| Ch Insp Roscoe Walford said Kent Police did not yet know the exact cause of the crash, but the car driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle before it crashed through the window. | Ch Insp Roscoe Walford said Kent Police did not yet know the exact cause of the crash, but the car driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle before it crashed through the window. |
| Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it released two people from the car. | Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it released two people from the car. |
| A spokesman for Costa Coffee spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families who have been affected by this very sad and shocking event. | |
| "We're working with emergency services to offer all possible support during their rescue efforts. Our team are deeply shocked by what has happened." | |
| At the scene: Nafisa Sayani, BBC South East Today reporter | |
| On the day before Christmas, this high street should have been buzzing with shoppers getting their last-minute gifts. | |
| Instead, festive spirit has been replaced by a sombre atmosphere, as police, ambulance and fire crews investigate the crash. | |
| The rear end of a black Audi pokes out from under a blue tarpaulin, almost completely lodged inside the coffee shop. | |
| Police have said it appears the driver lost control further up the road before crashing through the window. | |
| For now, the road remains closed while police continue their investigation. | |
| Everyone I have spoken to in the town is in disbelief. | |
| It has become a Christmas Eve many of them would rather forget. |