Harrow (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A car caught fire and burned out entirely in an incident that happened early this morning on 9th January 2025 near the Northwick Park roundabout in Harrow.
One of the two guys who received treatment at the site suffered injuries that would change his life. He was brought to the hospital and is still there.
A report of a burning car was received by Metropolitan Police officers at the Northwick Park Roundabout at approximately 1250 p.m. on January 9. The incident occurred in the early afternoon.
The roundabout links Sheepcote Road, Watford Road and Kenton Road..
Along with their colleagues from the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service, they were dispatched to the location where two guys had been reported injured.
How did Metropolitan Police respond to the Northwick Park incident?
The London Fire Brigade, the London Ambulance Service, and the Metropolitan Police responded quickly after emergency services were notified of the incident at around 00:50. While crews attempted to put out the fire and help individuals involved, the roundabout was temporarily closed.
“Officers were called at 00.50hrs on Thursday, 9 January, to reports of a vehicle fire on the Northwick Park Roundabout in Harrow”, a Met spokesperson stated.
“We attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.
“Two men were treated at the scene, one of them for life-changing injuries. He was taken to hospital, where he remains.”
The Metropolitan Police have not given any additional information regarding the inquiry into the fire’s cause to the public. They are probably looking at a number of things, though, such as potential outside influences or technical malfunctions that would have caused this dangerous circumstance.
Which alternative routes were used due to the Northwick Park closure?
As a result of the event, the route between the scene and the crossing of Tyburn Lane, Lowlands route, and Harrow-on-the-Hill was closed.
A number of bus routes were affected, including the 114, 182, 183, 186, 223, 483, H9, H10, H14, H18, SL10, and N18. The roundabout was temporarily closed with diversions in place.
College Road, Station Road, Gayton Road, Sheepcote Road, and Watford Road were used as alternatives for bus routes 182 and N18.
“Due to a police incident near Northwick Park Hospital, some local roads are closed and there’s severe congestion around the hospital. Please allow extra time for your journey”, stated a spokesman for the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the nearby Northwick Park Hospital.
According to the most recent information from the traffic monitoring website INRIX, “A404 Watford Road Northbound closed, long delays due to vehicle fire at A409 / Kenton Road (Northwick Park Roundabout). Congestion to North Wembley northbound, back into Wealdstone southbound, back through Kenton westbound, and back into Harrow town centre eastbound. On the roundabout.”
Shortly about 10:15 am, the road was once again open.
What does Harrow’s car incidents history reveal about road safety?
This car fire incident in Northwick Park has sparked worries about emergency response and car safety in Harrow, a London borough renowned for its busy roads and crossings. Being a vital junction for local traffic and linking several main routes, the Northwick Park roundabout is especially busy.
A number of car-related events that have occurred in Harrow in recent months caused concerns about safety.
Vehicle fires have increased noticeably around the borough. To give one example, Harrow recorded about 30 car fires in 2024, a 20% rise over the year before. Mechanical malfunctions or mishaps that turn into fires are frequently the cause of these disasters.
Numerous significant traffic accidents have occurred in the borough; according to sources, Harrow saw more than 150 crashes in 2023 that resulted in serious injuries. The necessity for better road safety measures is highlighted by this figure.
Thus, the recent event at the Northwick Park roundabout highlights the need for ongoing awareness and improvements in road safety measures in Harrow and serves as a sharp warning of these dangers.