Three men in their earlier 20s died after their crashed through a fence at Staples Corner last night

A white police car with its blue light on in the dark — Stock image (Credit- Met Police)

Three people have been killed and another is critically injured after a car crashed through a fence and down an embankment at Staples Corner near Brent Cross last night.

Police were called at around 11.30pm last night (14th April) to reports of a road traffic incident at Staples Corner retail park.

The car, a Mercedes CLK convertible, had crashed through a car park fence and down an embankment before hitting a footbridge.

Police, firefighters and ambulance services all attended the location and found five people, all believed to be men aged in their early 20s.

Three of the men were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were taken to hospital, with one in a critical condition.

The car had not been stolen and there have been no arrests.

Inspector William McDonald, one of the officers responsible for policing Barnet, said: “Emergency services responded last night to what seems to have been a terrible accident.

“An urgent police investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances, led by detectives from the Met’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

“Officers are in the process of informing the families of the five young people. The families are being supported by specialist officers. I send them my sincere condolences.”

The police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant mobile phone or dashcam footages is asked to call 101, reference 7502/14april.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.