Emergency services closed part of a busy road in Watford today after a suspected learner driver crashed into a lamp post.

The collision in Whippendell Road happened at around midday and left the post strewn across the street blocking traffic.

Pictures also show a crumpled black car at the base with police and a fire crew assessing the scene.

The post was left strewn across Whippendell Road, Watford.The post was left strewn across Whippendell Road, Watford. (Image: Emily Cavanus)

A passerby told the Watford Observer the person involved was a learner driver and that traffic was being diverted away from the area.

A Herts Police spokesperson said: "Police were called to reports of a road traffic collision occurring on Whippendell Road today (13 June) at around 12pm.

"It is reported that one vehicle, a Nissan Note, collided with a lamppost. The scene is also being attended by the fire service."

The car was left crumpled at the base of the lamp post.The car was left crumpled at the base of the lamp post. (Image: Emily Cavanus)

A woman and child were involved and suffered minor injuries, the spokesperson added.

Herts Fire and Rescue personnel were called but found no one was trapped and left the scene around an hour and a half later, while the ambulance service attended but said those involved did not require hospital treatment.

There were still delays over two hours later, according to Google Maps, which were particularly long between the two King Georges Avenue junctions.

A county council spokesperson added: "An Emergency Response Crew from our highways contractor, Ringway, attended the site at 1pm to assess the damage, clear up the oil spill and close the road. 

"At 1.35pm our Street Lighting Emergency crew attended site to make the site safe, however the electrical connection to the lamppost was still live, therefore UK Power Network's attendance was requested.

"UKPN arrived on site at 3pm to start the disconnection process. We are currently waiting for a lorry mounted crane to arrive on site to remove the concrete street lighting column. We expect the road to be reopened by 5pm."

Our highways team received a call at 12:20pm today informing us that a lamppost had been struck following an RTC and was blocking Whippendell Road in Watford. An Emergency Response Crew from our highways contractor, Ringway, attended the site at 1pm to assess the damage, clear up the oil spill and close the road.  At 13:35 our Street Lighting Emergency crew attended site to make the site safe, however the electrical connection to the lamppost was still live, therefore UKPN’s attendance was requested.

 

UKPN arrived on site at 3pm to start the disconnection process.  We are currently waiting for a lorry mounted crane to arrive on site to remove the concrete street lighting column.  We expect the road to be reopened within the next hour.

 

 

 

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