Emergency call out: fire crews from Croydon and Euston, in central London, were among those first at the scene of the car crash and gas leak by Mitcham Common yesterday
A man has been charged with drink driving and driving without due care and attention after police were called to the scene of a car crash on Mitcham Road in the early hours of yesterday morning. The vehicle’s collision ruptured a six-inch gas main, causing a serious gas leak and forcing hundreds of people to be evacuated from their homes because of the risk of explosion.
Inside Croydon reported yesterday how residents from Wingate Crescent, Moys Close and other roads within a 100-metre radius of the car crash spent much of the day either in a chilly emergency shelter at Croydon Cemetery or with friends, waiting for updates on the situation.
Roads were closed to traffic as gas networks engineers spent the morning carrying out urgent repairs .
Just after one o’clock on Sunday morning a car had swerved off the main A236 road and into a trench of some already on-going mains repairs works.
The Metropolitan Police today described the incident as “a road traffic collision involving one car”. The gas mains was “ruptured” by the impact, causing a dangerous gas leak. The crash site was also not far from a usually busy petrol station.
As well as the police, the scene was attended by the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade, who called in civil safety units from central London to help deal with the potentially explosive situation.
LFB station commander Tamer Ozdemir, who was at the scene, said: “Crews worked closely with emergency service partners to carry out evacuations of the local area. Multi-agency service partners remained on scene throughout the night and into Sunday morning to ensure the scene was safe and provide community support.”
According to LFB, the Brigade was called at 1.17am. Around 22 firefighters from Croydon, Lewisham and Euston fire stations were at the scene. The Fire Brigade estimated that “around 300 people were evacuated from surrounding properties”.
In a statement issued by Croydon Council to Inside Croydon yesterday, they said that only 15 households were affected by the mass evacuation.
Many evacuated residents were left cold, hungry and very angry with the lack of support they received from the council. It was left to police officers at the scene to go to Croydon University Hospital to borrow some blankets to help keep people, many wearing just the thin bed clothes they were wearing at the time of the evacuation, warm.
It is just over two years since a major explosion on Galpins Road, Thornton Heath, which occurred while gas mains work was being conducted nearby. Four-year-old Sahara Salman was killed in one collapsed house, while several homes on the street were destroyed.
Yesterday’s incident saw only one person injured. According to the Metropolitan Police today, “One man was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.”
Explosive situation: the gas mains leak on Mitcham Road was just a few yards from a BP petrol station
A Met spokesperson told Inside Croydon: “On Sunday, September 29, police were called to Mitcham Road following reports of a Road Traffic Collison involving one car at 01.10hrs.
“Police attended the scene and assisted with road closures.
“A 59-year-old man was arrested and charged with drink driving and for driving without due care and attention.
“He will appear at Croydon Magistrates Court on Monday, October 14.
“Enquiries are on-going.”
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
Glad to see my word in the Chief Constable’s ear has had the desired effect
I really hope he/she will never ever able to drive in uk road network
Ban him for life he/she ruined so many residents lives. Probably he’s laughing his head off as they is no harsh punishment in animal kingdom.
It’s a 59-year-old him, if you read the police statement, Prakash
Perhaps the driver of the Mitcham Rd car crash on 29th Sept, if found guilty, should be made to pay for repairs to the damage he caused to the Gas Main or pay for the inconvenience caused to the local community. Definitely not a custodial sentence alone which will not pay for the damage, hurt, inconvenience or unhappiness caused to the local people and amenities.
Croydon council say 15 households – who are they trying to kid!?!? No one could get hold of anyone at the council!!! People had to walk up to the 24 hour McDonald’s to use a toilet!!!! People left standing and freezing for hours – we got our car out – but no info given to us – no updates -people were told to find a hotel?? With no transport laid on for people – no money – no hotels open at that time!!!! Croydon council as usual let its residents down!!
The council’s press office is not very good, Donna.