'Big bang' heard after Kendal Avenue crash which left drivers injured

Police, fire crews and paramedics rushed to Kendal Avenue in Millbrook yesterday afternoon following a crash between a Land Rover Discovery and a Ford Focus.

The road was closed at the junction with Cuckmere Lane as emergency services dealt with the incident shortly after 5pm.

Photos from the scene show extensive damage to the front of both cars with debris strewn across the ground.

The two drivers, a man and a woman, suffered minor injuries with the latter being taken to hospital for further assessment, police say.

Emergency Services at Kendal Avenue (Image: Krzysztof Michalak)

A hairdresser at Studio 92, who asked not to be named, said: “There was a big bang, one of our staff came outside and saw what happened.

“My colleague was the person who went out there, but it looked quite bad.

“Apparently one of the cars was just flying down the road when it crashed into the other.

“The police, fire brigade and ambulance were all here and closed the road for some time.”

Debris after crash on Kendal Avenue (Image: Newsquest)

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I was at home when I saw police cars and ambulances arriving in blue lights.

“The whole road was closed off and people were looking out to see what had happened.”

Ahmed Ahmadey, 47, of Meadowmead Avenue, said his wife Fardina, 34, was injured in the crash and was also taken to hospital.

He said: "She was turning right into Kendal Avenue when she was hit by a car coming from the right. A bus driver said it must have been travelling at 60-70mph."

Following the incident, residents familiar with the junction took to social media to call for more safety measures.

Commenting on the Daily Echo Facebook page, Glenn Ings said: “Put speed ramps before this roundabout to slow drivers down. It is after all a junction and drivers should be approaching (slowing down) with caution and not accelerating through without undue care.”

Jenny Chalk said she had a ‘near miss’ at the junction. She was travelling towards Green Lane when another driver came out of Cuckmere Lane without stopping.

She said: “Fortunately my husband’s reaction was fast and our brakes good [and] we managed to stop before she hit us.”