Three killed and one fighting for life in horror crash at Brent Cross shopping centre

Met Police say a Mercedes convertible, carrying five men in their early 20s, crashed through a fence before plunging down an embankment and hitting a footbridge

Three young men were killed and one is fighting for his life after their car smashed through a fence at a retail park in north London late on Sunday night, before plunging down an embankment and hitting a footbridge.

The horror crash involved only the Mercedes CLK convertible carrying five men and happened in the car park at Staples Corner retail park in Brent Cross.

The Metropolitan Police believes there were other motorists in the car park at the time, and have asked them to come forward as it investigates what happened.

Police and the London Fire Brigade attended the scene off the North Circular Road shortly before 11.30pm along with the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.

Three people could not be saved and were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were taken to hospital, with one said to be in a critical condition while the other is being treated for injuries that are not thought to be life threatening.

The Met Police has said the five people involved were all men in their early twenties.

Inspector William McDonald, one of the officers responsible for policing in Barnet, said: “Emergency services responded last night to what seems to have been a terrible accident.

“An urgent police investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances, led by detectives from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

“Officers are in the process of informing the families of the five young people. The families will be supported by specialist officers. I send them my sincere condolences.”

Roads in the area have since reopened but the investigation continues. Police say there have been no arrests made, and that the car was not stolen.

Police officers stand beside a vehicle in the undergrowth at the scene (PA)

London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “This was a tragic incident attended by our specialist crews, who attended alongside our blue light partners to make the scene safe.”

Staples Corner retail park is a popular shopping destination with stores including Currys, Argos and Dunelm. It is also close to Brent Cross shopping centre.

Nearby business owners have spoken of their shock following the news of the deaths.

Tommy Bicak, owner of Work Man’s Cafe, told The Independent that he was aware of numerous casualties on the North Circular with pedestrian railings installed at a nearby junction after a customer’s father died 30 years ago.

Emergency services on the roundabout on the North Circular on Sunday night (UKNIP)

He said: “It took me a long time to get to work today and I did wonder. Then I put two and two together and realised something serious must have happened. I’m very sorry to hear of the deaths and my thoughts are with the families.

“It’s a busy road and I’m not sure what further safety improvement can be made.”

Sunday’s crash follows several road deaths in London this year.