This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35176262
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Costa Coffee crash: One dead, five hurt, as car hits Kent cafe | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman has died and four people were seriously injured after 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. | 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. | |
| The A25 was shut in both directions while police investigated the incident. | |
| The car could be seen embedded in one of the cafe's windows for some hours, before being taken away from the scene. | |
| '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. |
| "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. It's a horrible thing to have happened, on Christmas Eve of all days." | |
| 'Driver lost control' | 'Driver lost control' |
| Secamb said a man and woman, both seriously injured, were taken by ambulance to St George's 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 set up a witness centre at The Grasshopper public house in Westerham High Street. | |
| Ch Insp Roscoe Walford said the car came down the High Street and for unknown reasons lost control, mounted the footpath and went through the window of the cafe. | |
| He said: "It is a very sad occasion for Christmas Eve and especially for the family of the lady who has died. | He said: "It is a very sad occasion for Christmas Eve and especially for the family of the lady who has died. |
| "We will do our very best to come to a conclusion of how this has happened and to help the family through it." | "We will do our very best to come to a conclusion of how this has happened and to help the family through it." |
| 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 said: "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families who have been affected by this very sad and shocking event. | A spokesman for Costa Coffee 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." | "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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | For now, the road remains closed while police continue their investigation. |
| Everyone I have spoken to in the town is in disbelief. | Everyone I have spoken to in the town is in disbelief. |
| It has become a Christmas Eve many of them would rather forget. | It has become a Christmas Eve many of them would rather forget. |