A wave of shock and grief has swept through central London after a 21-year-old university student who has been named locally as  Aalia was killed when an electric van flew through the air and ploughed into a group of pedestrians near King’s College London.

The young woman, a second-year student at King’s, was sitting on a bench outside Bush House on The Strand when the van struck just before midday on Tuesday, March 18. Two others were injured, one critically, and a fourth person was treated and discharged at the scene.

Eyewitnesses have described the terrifying moment as the van appeared to go airborne after hitting a bollard, crashing into a group of people outside the university’s entrance.

Witness: “I Escaped Death by Seconds”
A 24-year-old witness, who had been chatting with friends near the bench moments before the crash, said she “cheated death” after moving away seconds before the impact.

“There was a gust of wind and we got cold in that spot so we moved. Seconds later a van came out and hit a group where we had been,” she told reporters.
“A woman who saw what happened was hysterical. A woman on the ground was holding her head, she was still breathing. There were three people all together across the path injured. It was carnage.”

The witness added that the van’s driver got out and tried to help those injured, reportedly saying: “I don’t know how this could have happened.”

Another student shared how the victim’s friend collapsed in grief after learning she had died. “He broke down. I gave him a hug. It was heartbreaking.”

King’s College Students in Mourning
Students and staff at King’s College London have been offered counselling and wellbeing support following the tragedy. Floral tributes have since been placed at the site of the crash, with many students gathering to pay their respects.

One student said:

“I usually sit there at that time – it could easily have been me. I came to pay my respects. I saw the paramedics working on her, it was heartbreaking.”

Another student, Arndt, 18, described seeing two bodies lying on the pavement when he exited a lecture. “Police came within minutes and began doing CPR on one of the victims – I’m pretty sure they died.”

Investigation Underway
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and driving with a concentration of specified controlled drugs above the legal limit. He remains in custody.

The force has stressed that the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related, and a crime scene remains in place.

A spokesperson added:

“Three pedestrians suffered injuries, with a woman in her twenties sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Two pedestrians have been taken to hospital—one has potentially life-threatening injuries, the other has minor injuries.”

Public Concern Over Road Access
Eyewitnesses and students have questioned how the van was able to reach a largely pedestrianised area, normally protected by bollards and turnstiles for authorised vehicles only.

One student told Metro:

“It raises serious questions. The area is meant to be secure, and yet a van somehow made it onto the pavement and hit people sitting on a bench.”

London Ambulance Service Response
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:

“We were called at 11.39am to reports of a road traffic collision in The Strand, WC2. We sent multiple resources including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, a clinical team manager and London’s air ambulance.
Four patients were treated. Sadly, one woman died at the scene. Two people were taken to hospital, and one was discharged.”

A forensic tent was later erected near the damaged bench and van, while a large police cordon remained in place throughout the day.

Appeal for Information
Police are urging witnesses and anyone with mobile footage or dashcam recordings from the area at the time of the incident to come forward. Information can be shared by calling 101 quoting CAD 2771/18MARCH or via @MetCC on X (formerly Twitter).

As tributes continue to grow at the scene, many are left mourning a life tragically cut short in what should have been an ordinary day at university.