Several people were injured in a horror Christmas Eve crash after a car ploughed into a coffee shop packed with people.
The vehicle was reportedly seen clipping cars coming before plunging through windows of the busy Costa Coffee today (Thurs).
It is believed the car was occupied by an elderly couple, who have had the roof of their Audi A4 cut off by firefighters.
The blue car smashed into the shop in Westerham, Kent, at about 10:30am.
Neighbouring shops were also evacuated, and one local said it was “the worst accident they have ever seen”.
Police, fire crews, ambulances and an air ambulance rushed to the scene.
Bridget Rowe, who lives on the next corner, said it sounded “like a bomb had gone off”.
Witness Matt Jenner said: “A car has driven into the side of Costa, the whole car is inside.
“Westerham is cut off – there are sirens everywhere.”
A Kent Police spokesperson said: “Kent Police were called at 10.32am on December 24 to reports a car had collided with a property in The Green, Westerham.
“Police officers, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene and there are several reported injuries.
“The road has been closed.”
South East Coast Ambulance Service were initially unable to reveal how many people were injured.
A spokesperson said: “We’re currently on scene at an incident at Costa Coffee in Westerham in Kent.
“We’ll give an update when we can.”
Around 20 emergency service vehicles arrived in Westerham to deal with the shocking Christmas crash.
Witness Sally Pendleton said that she counted ten ambulances, eight police cars and two fire engines in the tiny Kent village.
Sally passed the scene just a few minutes after the accident happened.
She said: “There was a man still in the car – he seemed OK but a few people were hurt and in shock.”
Another witness, Matt Jenner, said: “A car has driven into the side of Costa, the whole car is inside. Westerham is cut off. There are sirens everywhere.”
Others saw two elderly people, a man and a woman, pulled from the crashed vehicle, and there were several people seen with injuries including one elderly woman who was covered in blood.
Elle Akerman added: “I saw an old woman by the car – she had blood on her and was crying.
“I think there was an elderly couple who were hit by the car.”
Mark Heathcote, 45, lives in nearby Shoreham, Kent, was at the scene of the crash, but didn’t see it happen.
Mark said: “I was literally about 50 yards down the road when it happened.
“As I came up the street there was a lot of activity outside Costa.
“They were starting to bring people out, there were at least four people with blood on their faces.
“Everyone seemed to be walking, they were in shock.
“At first I thought the ceiling had collapsed, I couldn’t figure out what had happened but then I saw the car.
“There were people in there trying to clear the tables out the way to bring people out.
“I went round to where the car had come through, the driver and passenger were both very elderly and conscious.
“At least one airbag had gone off, there was a massive mess, he must have hit at least three tables by the window.
“It hit the window square on, if it had been a couple more feet either side it would have just hit the wall.
“The driver and passenger couldn’t get out the car.
“Moments after it had happened there was somebody telling the driver and passenger not to move, and to try and calm down.”
“The emergency services turned up quite quickly after several people had called them.”
One person was killed and five others were injured during the Christmas Eve horror crash in Westerham, Kent.
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed today (Thurs) at 1pm that one person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paramedics treated five people at the scene and then took them to hospital – four of which were suffering from serious injuries.
A spokesperson said: “Our clinicians have treated 6 patients at the incident at Costa Coffee in Westerham today.
“One sadly pronounced as deceased at scene.
“Five further patients treated at scene & then taken to hospital – four with serious injuries and one with minor injuries.”
The person who died is thought to be a woman in her 70s, who was sitting by the window in the packed cafe.
The driver of the fatal car crash was believed to be an 88-year-old man.
South East Coast Ambulance Service say five people, including the driver and his passenger, were also injured in the horror crash, four seriously.
A SECAmb spokesperson said: “Medics treated six patients in total, including one patient who died at the scene.
“Five further patients were treated and then taken to hospital.
“Two patients, a man and a woman, were taken by ambulance to St George’s Hospital in London, both with serious injuries.
“A man and a woman were taken by ambulance to the Princess Royal Hospital in Farnborough – again both with serious injuries.
“A woman with minor injuries was also taken by ambulance to Pembury Hospital.
“Our thoughts are with all those involved in and affected by this very sad incident.”
Chief Inspector Roscoe Walford said: “A black Audi was travelling down Westerham High Street when, for reasons unknown, it travelled along the footpath and into the window of the coffee shop where people were drinking coffee and celebrating Christmas eve.
“We will be carrying on our investigations for a good few hours.
“The family of the deceased have been informed.”
Matt Jenner was driving passed the popular coffee shop shortly after the crash.
He said: “I just saw the car in the front of the Costa. It was ridiculous, I’ve never seen anything like it.
“I’ve been in there loads of times and the road goes right by the side of the shop and you are aware the traffic is near you.
“I’m not saying it was something that was bound to happen, but it was a risk just having a window there. If a car was going into it, it would go straight through.
“It looked like they just went straight through the middle. If it went slightly to the left or the right then it would have hit a wall, they wouldn’t have gone through so cleanly.”
He said the cafe is a popular place for people in the town and with the windy weather it would have been full of people on Christmas Eve.
A Costa spokesman said: “We can confirm that a tragic accident occurred at our Westerham store this morning. Our thoughts are with the families who have been affected by this very sad and shocking event.
“We’re working with emergency services to offer all possible support during their rescue efforts. Our team are deeply shocked by what has happened.”