A major road in East London has been shut down this afternoon (Thursday, May 23) following a serious accident that resulted in the death of a woman in her 50s. Cambridge Heath Road is closed in both directions, causing significant traffic disruption and bus diversions.
The incident occurred between Hackney Road and Victoria Park Road and was reported at 10:44 am. Emergency services, including police and the London Ambulance Service (LAS), rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at 10:56 am.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at 10:44 am on Thursday, May 23 to reports of a collision at Cambridge Heath Road, E2. Officers and London Ambulance Service [LAS] attended. At the scene, a woman, aged 50, had been in collision with a lorry. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:56 am.
Enquiries are underway to notify her next of kin. The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene and has not been arrested. Closures and cordons remain in place as the investigation continues.
Authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage to contact them. Anyone who witnessed this incident or has footage should call police on 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting 2377/23MAY,” the spokesperson added.
The road closure has led to queuing traffic up to Bethnal Green Station and along Hackney Road from Hoxton, with southbound traffic building up along Victoria Park Road. Hackney Road is also closed both ways under the railway bridge, and the entire Cambridge Heath crossroads is taped off, according to traffic and travel monitoring website Inrix.
Several bus routes, including numbers 26, 55, 106, 254, 388, and D6, have been diverted due to the closures.
