'Met van that almost killed me had siren switched off'

A MAN had to have his spleen removed and suffered six broken ribs, a broken arm and a head injury after a police van ploughed into him while its emergency siren was switched off.

The accident, which left Mark Broomhall on a life-support machine for five days, is the latest in a series of incidents in which pedestrians in London have been knocked over by speeding police cars.

Mr Broomhall, 34, was enjoying a night out with friends on the Kings Road when the accident took place shortly after midnight on 4 February, at the junction of Black Terrace.

He was thrown several feet into the air after smashing into the windscreen of the marked Vauxhall Astra police dog van which was answering an emergency call.

Mr Broomhall and his partner, Stephen West, 43, were returning to a friend's flat after a birthday party held at Chelsea's English Garden restaurant.

Ironically, Mr Broomhall's friends in the area had previously complained about the noise of police sirens keeping them awake at night.

Mr Broomhall, a former care assistant from Erith in Kent, who suffers from epilepsy, was released on Monday from Kensington and Chelsea Hospital.

The police van driver from the South West Dogs Section was travelling to investigate suspects on Regent Street. He was unhurt in the crash and helped to provide first aid to the victim.

Mr Broomhall, who will be on antibiotics for the rest of his life, is now taking legal advice over the incident. He disputes police claims that he walked out from among a row of parked cars and claims the van was going around 35 to 40mph when he was hit.

He said: "I crossed the road diagonally and I don't remember seeing any parked cars. I am just trying to piece my life back together and piece together what happened that night."

Mr Broomhall says he had about four glasses of wine over a period of five hours and insists he was not drunk at the time. When the ambulance departed for the hospital, Mr West was told he could not travel with Mr Broomhall because he was drunk.

Mr West said: "The police were obnoxious and wouldn't let me go in the ambulance. They said I was drunk, but I was only annoyed with the way they were dealing with things. He lost six units of blood and could have died in the ambulance or on the operating table."

A police officer investigating the incident said it was standard procedure for sirens to be turned off at night.

Sergeant David Boyle, based at the Barnes traffic garage, said: "The siren was turned off after going through some traffic lights. It is standard procedure at night but the lights were on."

Police say the van was travelling at between 20 and 25 miles an hour at the point of impact. Within 10 minutes of the accident, there were a dozen police cars around Mr Broomhall and the damaged van. The Kings Road was sealed off in both directions by the time an ambulance had arrived minutes later.

Sgt Boyle admitted officers may have overreacted to protect the driver of the van.

He said: "The scene was a bit heated after the crash. When local police officers arrived one officer was being surrounded by about 15 of [Mr Broomhall's] friends and witnesses.

"The officers had to clear the area for forensic examination so they may have acted a little over the top in the heat of the moment."

Sgt Boyle said police are still taking statements from witnesses and trying to trace the owners of the parked cars.

A Met spokesman said: "We use sirens when appropriate to warn people of fast approaching vehicles. We won't use them unnecessarily."

Serious crashes during police pursuits and 999 calls have risen alarmingly, according to figures from the Police Complaints Authority.

Anyone who saw the accident involving Mr Broomhall is asked to call police at the Barnes traffic garage on 020 8876 9805.

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