Man Crushed by Digger on Busy London High Street
A man has been tragically run over by a construction digger on a bustling north London high street, sparking a major police investigation and road closure. The incident occurred around midday on Thursday on Kilburn High Street, where a forensic tent was erected in front of a Volvo vehicle at the scene.
Witness Accounts of the Horror
Harley Harjeet Shekarpouri, 21, who works at Fone Vape opposite the crash site, described the terrifying moments. "It was horrible there was screaming and a woman shouting 'move' to the driver," he told Metro. "The poor man was underneath. People were crying. I've never seen anything like that, I can't get it out of my head. There was no blood I could see but there's no way he could have survived it, that digger weights tonnes."
Christopher Todorov added, "There was screaming and shouting directly after. There were a lot of people around. Luckily I wasn't with my kids but there were children crying. People nearer than me said the guy walked in front of the digger."
Scene of the Incident
Pictures from the scene show police erecting a cordon outside a Franca Manca restaurant on the corner of Belsize Road. The yellow construction vehicle, equipped with a mechanical claw at the front, remained stopped at the location. A mum-of-two working in a nearby cafe recounted, "We heard a wall of noise, there was cars beeping and people screaming. Then all the emergency services raced in. It was proper carnage."
Investigation and Disruption
The road remains closed as investigators meticulously trawl the scene to establish how the incident unfolded. Authorities are collecting CCTV footage from businesses and council cameras to piece together the events. Rush hour traffic around Kilburn has been diverted, including buses, causing significant tailbacks and delays for commuters.
The busy high street will stay closed until further notice, with the Metropolitan Police approached for comment on the ongoing investigation. This tragic accident has left the local community in shock, highlighting safety concerns on one of London's busiest thoroughfares.
