Three people seriously injured after a rickshaw and bus collision in central London

25 August 2025 , 08:50

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Three people seriously injured after a rickshaw and bus collision in central London

A rickshaw rider and two passengers have been critically injured after a bus hit them in central London.

One of the three victims was rushed to a major trauma center for treatment after the incident, which took place on Charing Cross Road in the early hours of Monday morning.

The other two were taken to local hospitals, a spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said.

A section of the busy street, which leads towards Trafalgar Square and past several West End theatres, has been closed this morning.

Pictures from the scene show an area cordoned off outside the Phoenix Theatre, a short distance south from Tottenham Court Road station.

The rickshaw, decorated with lights and pink feathers, is seen lying on one side next to the N19 bus to Clapham Junction, which has a damaged front.

Diversions were in place for a number of night buses.

Rickshaws decorated with bright lights and blasting pop music are a regular sight in the center of the capital, providing an unusual transport option for tourists visiting Theatreland.

Formally known as ‘pedicabs’, the vehicles are largely unregulated but new rules and standards were introduced in a law passed in Parliament last year.

A police officer walks past the mangled rickshaw just south of Tottenham Court Road station (Picture: UKNIP)

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 1:07 am today (25 August) to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Charing Cross Road and Phoenix Street.

‘We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance.

‘We treated three people. We took one patient to a major trauma center and two patients to local hospitals.’

Inquiries are being led by specialist officers from the Met’s Alperton Traffic Garage and Forensic Collision Investigation Unit.

Sophia Martinez

World Affairs Correspondent