Woman’s unborn baby dies in police chase crash in South London

A baby has died after a car involved in a police pursuit crashed into the vehicle of its parents

16:24, 14 Jun 2026Updated 16:38, 14 Jun 2026

A pregnant woman’s baby has after a car involved in a police pursuit crashed into the vehicle of its parents in South London.

The collision happened at around 23:30 on Saturday, 13 June on Lewisham Way after officers authorised a pursuit when they spotted a suspect car displaying cloned number plates and failing to stop. The suspect vehicle then collided with another car being driven by a man in his 20s, with a heavily pregnant woman in her 20s as a passenger. The pair were the baby’s parents. The driver of their car, the father, was treated for injuries which were neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

The woman was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade. Despite efforts by emergency services, her baby died. She remains in hospital for treatment, and her condition is not life-threatening.

The driver of the suspect vehicle, a 29-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, failure to stop and possession of class A drugs.

He was also taken to hospital with injuries sustained in the crash. Police said his injuries are neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

An investigation is ongoing and the crime scene has since been lifted. The incident has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, given that the death of the baby occurred following a police chase.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Quinton, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the mother and father involved, and their family following the tragic loss of their child.