A driver has been arrested after three people have been rushed to hospital when a car crashed into an Angus Steakhouse in central London’s Piccadilly Circus.
The car mounted the pavement of the busy West End tourist area and struck a pedestrian, before hitting the restaurant shortly before 7pm on Tuesday while diners were inside.
The pedestrian, the driver of the car and a passenger in the vehicle were all taken to hospital. No diners in the restaurant were injured.
On Wednesday afternoon Scotland Yard confirmed the driver of the car had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
A shop worker who witnessed the crash described hearing a “massive bang” after seeing people running away after the collision.
Ramu, who did not give his surname, told the Standard: “I was scared it was a terror attack it was so loud. I just saw the car come speedily and hit the curb near the fountain then fly off onto the pavement.”
A security guard who works in Piccadilly Circus said that tourists usually eat outside on the pavement metres from where the crash happened.
Alexandra, who also did not give her surname, said: "Things happen all the time in this area. Especially in the evening. There are so many tourists here all the time."
The London Fire Brigade explained it was forced to cut one of the vehicle’s doors off to free someone from the car.
A road closure was set up outside the restaurant, located at the junction of Haymarket and Coventry Street.
Tourists staying in an Airbnb above the Angus Steakhouse also told the Standard they saw someone being put in an ambulance roughly an hour after the crash happened.
South African tourist Cathy said: "When we arrived the whole area was cordoned off by cops. There were ambulances and fire engines.
"There was a black car that had crashed into a barrier. We saw someone being taken into an ambulance."
Pictures from the scene show a heavy emergency services presence and a mangled dark car.
The conditions of the pedestrian and the passenger are not yet known.
A Met Police spokesperson said the driver of the car was not seriously injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
A car crashed outside Angus Steakhouse in Piccadilly Circus, London pic.twitter.com/5lNw8qayru
— UB1UB2 West London (Southall) (@UB1UB2) November 12, 2024
There were no reports of any other serious injuries, the spokesperson said.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 6:52pm on Tuesday 12 November to reports of an incident at Coventry Street, W1D.
"We sent three ambulance crews, an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic and a medic in a fast response car. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated three patients at the scene. We took all three to a major trauma centre, two as a priority."
There are five Angus Steakhouse restaurants across central London.
It bills itself as “London’s original steakhouse” and says its outlets are “conveniently situated near prime spots like the West End, Paddington, and Leicester Square, we cater to both national and international tourists.”
The incident comes after internet pranksters began leaving positive reviews for the chain in a bid to stop their favourite London steakhouses being swamped by tourists.
Reddit users hailed the chain as a “little-known gem” and called it the “absolute best destination restaurant in London.”
Their hope is that when visitors search for “the best steakhouse in London,” AI-powered search engines will generate results for Angus Steakhouse rather than people’s real favourites.
