DEVELOPING STORY: This is a developing story. Follow our live blog below for the latest updates as we receive them.
Updated: 2 October 2026
New details have emerged about the crash at the A10 Great Cambridge Road junction with Church Street: the second vehicle involved was an ambulance, and both it and the police van were responding to an emergency with blue lights flashing. An eyewitness account says both vehicles went through a red light before they collided, sending the police van spinning 180 degrees into a traffic light and flipping onto its side, while the ambulance stayed upright. Two construction workers helped the officer out of the overturned van, and passers-by climbed onto the vehicle to help those inside.
An overturned police car is causing traffic chaos on a major north London road this morning, with drivers warned to expect delays.
The police vehicle ended up on its side on Church Street, with the incident affecting the A10 — one of the capital’s busiest arterial routes through Stoke Newington.
Motoring organisation the AA has reported “slow traffic and no right turn due to earlier crash, an overturned car involved on A10”, indicating the disruption is impacting journeys in the area.
We have contacted the emergency services for statements and will bring you their response as soon as we receive it.
What we know so far
- An overturned police car is on Church Street in north London
- The crash is affecting traffic on the A10
- The AA reports slow traffic and no right turn on the A10
- Emergency services have been asked for statements
- Witnesses are being urged to come forward
Live updates
1:40pm: Footage from the scene appears to show the police car on its side after the crash at Church Street, with people seen climbing and jumping off the overturned vehicle. We have not embedded the third-party footage here.
11:59am: We have reached out to emergency services for statements about the overturned police car. We will let you know when we get a response.
11:55am: Did you witness the incident on Church Street or the A10 this morning? If you saw what happened, or if you have photos or video, please get in touch — your information could help our coverage.
11:44am: The AA is now reporting disruption on the A10: “Slow traffic and no right turn due to earlier crash, an overturned car involved on A10.” Drivers should expect delays and consider alternative routes.
11:42am: Welcome to our live blog. An overturned police car has been pictured on Church Street in north London and is causing major traffic problems on the surrounding roads, including the A10.
What drivers need to know
Motorists are strongly advised to avoid the area around Church Street and the A10 while the emergency services deal with the overturned police car. Recovery of the vehicle and any clear-up operation could take some time.
Anyone who needs to travel through north London this morning should check live traffic information before setting off, allow plenty of extra time for their journey, and be prepared to use alternative routes. Bus services through the area may also be diverted, delayed or curtailed at short notice.
Real-time updates are available from the AA, TfL and other traffic information providers. If you are already caught in the queues, please be patient and follow any directions from officers at the scene.
About the area
Church Street runs through Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney, close to where it meets the A10. Through this part of north London the A10 runs as Stoke Newington High Street and Stoke Newington Road, forming one of the main routes between the City and the northern suburbs, Hertfordshire and beyond.
It is one of the capital’s busiest roads, and any incident can quickly cause tailbacks stretching for miles. This is not the first time the route has been hit by serious disruption — rush-hour chaos was caused when an emergency incident closed the A10 in both directions at Stamford Hill.
Stoke Newington itself is a densely populated residential and commercial district, and its main roads carry a constant flow of buses, lorries, cyclists and cars. In a separate recent incident, a man was seriously injured after being struck by a car outside Stoke Newington Overground station.
We will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest as soon as the emergency services respond. If you witnessed the crash or are affected by the delays, please get in touch.
