This is the shocking moment an out-of-control bin lorry smashed into a home and parked cars leaving the 29-year-old driver dead and a child for for their life. 
Several people were injured as the HGV hurtled down the suburban street in Kidbrooke, south east London, during the morning rush hour.

The lorry struck two cars, before then hitting two more cars and the house.  Police, firefighters, paramedics and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene at around 8am.

Emergency crews confirmed the lorry driver died at the scene and an 11-year-old child is in a ‘life-threatening’ condition. 

Two other men, one understood to be the child’s father, have been taken to hospital, but their injuries are not life threatening.

The child was on the school run with his father when the green truck ploughed into them, according to witnesses. 

Station commander Nathan Hobson said: ‘Specialist Urban Search and Rescue crews attended the scene and efforts were made to free the lorry driver but sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.’

The London Ambulance Service treated a further three patients. One was taken to a major trauma centre, one was taken to hospital, and one was discharged.

Five vehicles were severely damaged in the crash while several others suffered minor damage.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the scene was ‘utterly tragic’ after the lorry crashed just 30 metres from his home.

‘About 8am when I was preparing school run for my kids, all (of a) sudden police, ambulance siren, helicopter sound went on,’ he said. 

‘Bit emotional myself right now after hearing an 11-year-old is in a serious condition. It’s utterly tragic – my thoughts are with their loved ones.’ 

A 35-year-old builder, who did want to be named, would have been inside his leased grey Peugeot Partner van setting off for work had the crash happened 10 minutes later.
His vehicle had been parked outside his home when the lorry smashed into it and caused it to drag a grey Volkswagen Passat into a neighbouring wall.

He said: ‘I was just getting ready to go to work when I heard this huge smash. I looked out and my van was destroyed.

‘It’s only a piece of metal – just a van which is replaceable. But another 10 minutes and I would have been dead had I been inside it.’ 

Locals said the family were not in the house when the lorry smashed into the front room.

One neighbour said: ‘They’re so fortunate. It could have been an unthinkable tragedy had they all been home.’ 

This afternoon, the distraught homeowner was sat on the wall opposite watching officers search for clues through the rubble of his house.

He was too upset to comment. The green industrial bin lorry had smashed into the side of his home and ploughed into the front room. 

The road has speed bumps along it as it is used as a rat run in rush hour.

One theory being investigated by Scotland Yard is the possibility the lorry driver may have suffered a medical episode while behind the wheel.

A Met Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called at approximately 08:05hrs on Monday, 14 September to Broad Walk in Kidbrooke, SE3 by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) to a road traffic collision involving multiple vehicles and a residential building.

‘Officers attended alongside the LAS and London Fire Brigade.

‘Officers are aware that a number of people were injured.

‘A man, aged 29 years old, was sadly declared dead at the scene. Work is ongoing to trace his next of kin. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

‘An 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital; his condition has been assessed as life-threatening.