Three people have been hospitalised after a Toyota crashed right outside an Angus Steakhouse in central London tonight.
Witnesses reported that the vehicle mounted the pavement ‘after losing control’ outside the restaurant in the busy Piccadilly Circus area at 6.50pm.
Police say that a pedestrian and a passenger in the car were rushed to hospital with injuries. The driver was also taken to hospital as a precaution.
Shocking footage shows the smashed up vehicle being surrounded by dozens of people after it crashed. Video shows smashed glass around the car, while the airbag was also deployed.
A member of staff at Angus Warehouse told MailOnline that the car would have ploughed into diners if it had not been stopped by one of London’s street map signs, known as monoliths, which brought the vehicle to a sudden stop.
‘The car came to a stop one metre before our restaurant,’ she said. ‘The ground was a bit slippery and the driver obviously lost control. They hit one of the maps [monolith]. This is what stopped the restaurant being hit.’
The waitress said the restaurant managers quickly called the police and ambulances after the car crashed in a packed out area, while diners were eating inside.
She added: ‘Everyone was in shock, you don’t see this every day. There was a loud crash. There were a lot of people, it was very crowded.’
The staff member said that the passenger was ‘more injured’ than the driver and that she did not know the condition of the pedestrian.
Detectives say they are investigating what caused the crash but are not currently treating it as terror-related.
A spokesman for the Met Police told MailOnline: ‘Police were called at approximately 18:50hrs on Tuesday, 12 November to reports of a collision involving a car in Coventry Street, junction with Haymarket, SW1.
‘Witnesses reported a car mounted the pavement before colliding with a building.
‘Two people – a pedestrian and a passenger who was in the car – were taken to hospital for treatment.
‘The driver of the car was not seriously injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
‘No reports of any other serious injuries. Road closures remain in place around the location.
‘Enquiries into the circumstances continue. At this time the incident is not being treated as terrorist related.’
The staff member confirmed that the restaurant was back open on Tuesday night, despite the terrifying crash.
Angus Steakhouse is central London chain, with five restaurants spilled out across the capital.
The Piccadilly Circus location opened in 1968, serving customers grilled steaks, ribs and other American-style BBQ food.
