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| London woman dies in possibly the first drone-related accidental death | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A young woman has died in a car crash after her vehicle was followed by police investigating reports of a drone being flown near Wandsworth Prison in London. | A young woman has died in a car crash after her vehicle was followed by police investigating reports of a drone being flown near Wandsworth Prison in London. |
| The incident may be the first fatality linked to the non-military use of drones. | |
| Scotland Yard said police were called to a road near the jail just after 3am on Tuesday morning, to investigate reports of a drone being flown near the prison grounds. | Scotland Yard said police were called to a road near the jail just after 3am on Tuesday morning, to investigate reports of a drone being flown near the prison grounds. |
| In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “Officers arrived and a car was seen to leave the scene. Officers followed the vehicle and at 3.10am it was seen to have been involved in a collision in Ashcombe Street at the junction of Wandsworth Bridge Road. | In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “Officers arrived and a car was seen to leave the scene. Officers followed the vehicle and at 3.10am it was seen to have been involved in a collision in Ashcombe Street at the junction of Wandsworth Bridge Road. |
| “At this stage, it is believed no other vehicle was involved the collision. The London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended. | “At this stage, it is believed no other vehicle was involved the collision. The London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended. |
| “One occupant of the car, a woman in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.” | “One occupant of the car, a woman in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.” |
| Police said the driver of the car, a man thought to be in his 20s, is now in a critical condition in a west London hospital. | Police said the driver of the car, a man thought to be in his 20s, is now in a critical condition in a west London hospital. |
| The accident comes a day after The Independent reported that police are having to investigate a fourfold rise in the number of reports of suspicious activity involving shop-bought drones. | The accident comes a day after The Independent reported that police are having to investigate a fourfold rise in the number of reports of suspicious activity involving shop-bought drones. |
| It also follows incidents of drones being used to smuggle contraband including so-called 'legal high' drugs to prison inmates. | It also follows incidents of drones being used to smuggle contraband including so-called 'legal high' drugs to prison inmates. |
| It is not yet known, however, why the drone was being flown, and its presence near the prison may have been coincidental. No arrests have been made following the incident, which is now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | It is not yet known, however, why the drone was being flown, and its presence near the prison may have been coincidental. No arrests have been made following the incident, which is now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
| Scotland Yard said in its statement: “Police are in the process of informing next-of-kin. Formal identification awaits. | Scotland Yard said in its statement: “Police are in the process of informing next-of-kin. Formal identification awaits. |
| “A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course. | “A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course. |
| “The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission were informed. | “The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Police Complaints Commission were informed. |
| “The IPCC is carrying out an independent investigation.” | “The IPCC is carrying out an independent investigation.” |