North Pole Road in west London remains closed in both directions this morning after a crash overnight, with police keeping the carriageway shut while crash investigation work continues into the morning rush hour. There is no indication yet of when the road will reopen.
The road is shut between Wood Lane and Brewster Gardens, either side of Latimer Road, in North Kensington. The incident was first reported at around 12.55am on Friday, September 25, and the closure was still firmly in place when live coverage began at around 6.18am, meaning the road has now been shut through the whole of the early morning.
Updates through the morning have confirmed the picture: the closure runs between Wood Lane and Brewster Gardens, bus routes 7 and 70 are being diverted, and officers remain at the scene. People in the area have been invited to send in pictures and updates as the situation develops.
Photographs from the scene show the extent of the closure. Police tape is stretched across the carriageway, an officer can be seen standing inside the cordon, and the stretch of North Pole Road beyond it is completely empty of traffic. The most recent pictures, taken shortly before 7am, show no vehicles able to travel through the cordoned section.
The closure covers both directions, so drivers travelling either way along North Pole Road are having to find another route. The taped-off area marks the working zone for the investigation, and members of the public are being asked to stay clear of it while officers carry out their work.
Drivers heading through North Kensington are being warned to expect disruption and to use alternative routes. With the road shut since the early hours, surrounding streets are likely to be carrying extra traffic while the cordon stays in place. Motorists are being asked to plan ahead and to follow diversions where they are in operation.
Bus passengers are also affected. Routes 7 and 70 are being diverted around the closure, and anyone travelling through the area has been advised to check their journey before setting out and to allow extra time for delays.
So far, further details about the collision itself have not been confirmed. It has not yet been said what happened, what type of vehicles were involved, or whether anyone was hurt.
It is the latest in a series of serious incidents on the capital’s roads in recent weeks, following the death of a 16-year-old girl in a collision with a taxi in Highgate and the fatal collision at Emerald Square in Southall after which officers issued a witness appeal.
This is a developing story. The live blog is still being updated this morning, and this article will be updated as further details are confirmed.
