Tragedy on The Strand: Student Killed as Van Soars Into Crowd
A wave of shock has hit central London after a 21-year-old university student, named locally as Aalia, was tragically killed when an electric van flew through the air and ploughed into a group of pedestrians near King’s College London.
The second-year student was sitting on a bench outside Bush House on The Strand when the van struck just before midday on Tuesday, March 18. Two others were seriously injured, one critically, while a fourth was treated and released at the scene.
Harrowing Eyewitness Account: ‘I Escaped Death by Seconds’
A 24-year-old witness, who had been chatting with friends nearby moments before the crash, said she narrowly avoided disaster. “There was a gust of wind, and we got cold, so we moved. Seconds later a van came out and hit the group where we had been,” she recalled.
“A woman on the ground was holding her head and still breathing. There were three injured across the path. It was carnage.”
The driver reportedly fled the van but returned and tried to help, saying: “I don’t know how this could have happened.”
Mourning and Questions Over Safety at King’s College
Students and staff at King’s College London have been offered counselling and support. Floral tributes have piled up at the crash site as the community mourns.
One student said, “I usually sit there at that time – it could easily have been me. I came to pay my respects. Seeing paramedics work on her was heartbreaking.” Another described how a friend of the victim broke down in grief.
Witnesses have raised concerns about how the van gained access to a pedestrianised area, normally protected by bollards and turnstiles. One student told Metro, “It raises serious questions. The area is meant to be secure.”
Driver Arrested – Investigation Underway
Police confirmed a 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and driving under the influence of drugs. He remains in custody.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said:
“Three pedestrians suffered injuries. Sadly, a woman in her twenties was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to hospital—one with potentially life-threatening injuries.”
The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related. A crime scene remains in place, and police appeal for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward by calling 101, quoting CAD 2771/18MARCH, or via @MetCC on X.
London Ambulance Service Response
The London Ambulance Service arrived swiftly with multiple crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, a clinical team manager, and air ambulance.
“Four patients were treated. Sadly, one woman died at the scene. Two people were taken to hospital, and one was discharged,”
said a spokesperson.
As tributes continue to grow, Londoners are left grappling with the horror of a young life cut painfully short in what should have been a normal day at university.
