Pedicab in head-on bus crash was 'stolen'

A pedicab which crashed headlong into a double-decker bus was stolen, it has been claimed.

Three men were injured, two seriously, in the crash on Charing Cross Road, central London, shortly after 01:00 BST on Monday.

The London Pedicab Welfare Association (LPWA) said the collision "did not involve any professional pedicab rider", but the Met was not able to confirm it was investigating the incident as theft.

The claim was made as dashcam footage revealed the moment the vehicle veered into the path of an N19 bus coming in the the opposite direction.

The LPWA said: "One of our riders had briefly left his vehicle unattended to purchase food, during which time a group of intoxicated individuals stole the pedicab.

"It was these individuals who were subsequently responsible for the collision.

"Our rider, who was present at the scene, has confirmed this, and the matter has already been reported to the police. He is fully cooperating with their ongoing investigation."

The two vehicles crashed, leaving three injured

Police are investigating the cause of the crash

The LPWA said it agreed pedicabs should be properly regulated but not banned.

A spokesman said: "The LPWA remains committed to working with TfL to ensure fair, robust, and effective regulations that protect both passengers and professional riders, while keeping pedicabs as a safe and sustainable part of London's transport culture."

The Metropolitan Police said of the two men seriously injured, one remains in a critical condition.

"The other man is no longer in a serious condition and is recovering well in hospital," it added.

The third man was discharged from hospital on the day of the collision.

The force has been approached for comment about the claims the vehicle was stolen.

A spokesperson said: "There are no updates or arrests in relation to the investigation at this stage."