A passenger has died after a car left the carriageway and crashed into The Albert pub in Bow, east London, in the early hours of Sunday morning, with two men in their twenties arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service crews rushed to the junction of Roman Road and St Stephen’s Road at 1:25am following reports of a serious collision. Officers found the vehicle had swerved off the road and smashed into the building housing The Albert pub, a well-known community establishment on the corner.
One passenger was pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics. The driver and another passenger, both men in their twenties, suffered injuries confirmed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing. Both men have been detained on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
A forensic tent and multiple cordons were established outside the Victorian-era pub as specialist officers began their investigation. The crime scene remained in place throughout Sunday as detectives worked to establish the circumstances of the fatal crash.
Emergency Response
“We were called at 1:35am today to reports of a road traffic collision on St Stephen’s Road, Bow,” a London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed. We sent resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer, members of our hazardous area response team and London’s Air Ambulance.
The spokesperson added: “Our crews treated three people. Sadly, one person was declared dead at the scene. We took the other two patients to hospital.”
The Metropolitan Police statement noted: “A car left the carriageway and collided with a building at the junction of Roman Road and St Stephen’s Road. One of the passengers in the car was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The force confirmed both surviving occupants had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment following changes to legislation in June 2022. The minimum driving ban upon conviction is five years with a compulsory extended re-test.
Historic Pub Damaged
The Albert, a cherished community pub with its distinctive red brick facade and dormer window, has stood on the corner of St Stephen’s Road since at least 1865. Historical records show the pub was originally on what was then called Three Colt Street before the road names were changed in the 1870s.
The venue underwent refurbishment in 2020 and had become a popular spot for locals, operating as part of the Craft Union pub chain. The establishment regularly showed live sport and served as a community gathering place in the heart of Bow.
Early records from Tower Hamlets Library and Archives show the property was first operated by Charles Durden, listed as a “beer house keeper” in the 1871 census. The pub has survived through numerous changes of ownership and remains a fixture of the local area.
Serious Charges
The two arrested men face potential lengthy prison sentences if convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. Under sentencing guidelines updated in June 2023, the offence carries significantly increased penalties compared to previous years.
The most serious cases, categorised as Level A offences involving prolonged and deliberate dangerous driving or gross impairment through alcohol or drugs, attract starting points of 12 years’ imprisonment with a range of 8 to 18 years. Even lesser offences carry substantial custodial sentences.
The distinction between dangerous and careless driving is crucial in such cases. Dangerous driving is defined as falling “far below” the standard expected of a competent and careful driver, whilst careless driving falls merely “below” that standard. The presence of a fatality does not automatically elevate careless driving to dangerous driving, though it serves as an aggravating factor for sentencing.
Investigation Continues
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward as they piece together the events leading to the fatal collision. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “A crime scene remains in the area whilst specialist officers complete their enquiries, which are ongoing.
The force urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage, including dashcam recordings, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 615/20Jul.
Road safety statistics show that whilst overall road deaths in the UK have declined in recent decades, fatal collisions remain a significant concern in urban areas. In 2023, 38 per cent of road traffic fatalities occurred in urban areas, with speed and dangerous driving remaining leading contributory factors.
Community Impact
The crash has shocked the local community in Bow, where The Albert has served residents for over 150 years. The pub’s location at the busy junction of Roman Road and St Stephen’s Road makes it a prominent landmark in the area.
Local media reported distressed individuals at the scene in the immediate aftermath of the collision, with forensic investigators working throughout Sunday to examine the crash site. The extent of damage to the historic building remains under assessment.
As the investigation continues, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of dangerous driving. The identity of the deceased passenger has not been released pending formal identification and notification of next of kin.
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Image Credit:
The Albert, Bow, London – Photo by Julian Osley, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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