999 services in 'postcode squabble' after crash

3:10am Thursday 19th July 2007

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The victim of a hit-and-run accident lay bleeding and semi-conscious in the road while emergency services tried to work out whose borough the accident happened in, it has been claimed.

An eyewitness said valuable minutes were lost in the aftermath while control room staff tried to decide which borough should deal with the incident.

“The van just drove off and left the man lying in the road. I called 999 and was told an ambulance was on its way. About 10 minutes later I was called back and asked what postcode the accident had happened in. "

The accident happened shortly after 9.30am on Saturday in Streatham High Road, at the junction of Hermitage Lane - a location which is split between Norbury and Streatham on the border of boroughs Croydon and Lambeth.

A man in his 60s was walking across a zebra crossing when he was hit by a white van, which failed to stop. He suffered serious head injuries and is believed to be in a critical condition.

Eyewitness Tony Pereira, from Shirley, said: "The van just drove off and left the man lying in the road. I called 999 and was told an ambulance was on its way. About 10 minutes later I was called back and asked what postcode the accident had happened in.

"I said I didn't know and I was told by the operator that they needed to know the postcode before they sent anyone. I had to run to the nearest road sign. When I got back a paramedic car was at the scene but we had to wait a while longer for an ambulance."

According to London Ambulance Service (LAS) a rapid response car was on the scene by 9.40am and an ambulance arrived at 9.52am. It is thought a car from Lambeth Police arrived around this time too.

Mr Pereira added: "Someone had taken down part of the number plate and we were expecting the police to go off and see if they could find the car. But they couldn't work out whether the accident had happened in Norbury or Streatham. When it transpired it was Norbury, the Lambeth officers then said they had to wait for Croydon to turn up.

"I kept saying but you are London officers, what difference does it make?' I had to give my statement again once the Croydon officers turned up."

Anyone with information about the accident should contact the investigation unit at Catford on 020 285 1574.