A HIGH-speed crash involving a police van during a car chase has prompted calls for a roundabout to be created at a notorious crossroads.


The van and an Audi A4 crashed in Palmerston Road, Buckhurst Hill, at the junction with Roebuck Lane, Westbury Lane and King’s Avenue, just before 11pm on Thursday.


The police car had been chasing a white Fiat 500 that did not stop after being flagged down nearby.
Joe Kaz, 22, who lives on the junction with his parents, heard the crash.


He said: “I heard a really strange siren. I went to the window to see what was heading up Roebuck Lane and a police car flew past.


“A matter of seconds later, I heard an almighty bang.


“My adrenaline kicked in and I ran downstairs thinking that someone had been seriously injured at the junction.


“I put some shoes on and ran to the top of the road and was greeted with a two car crash.


“The police car had spun a full 180 degrees on the pavement.


“Thankfully, everyone was out of the cars and sat down.”


The driver of the Audi was taken to hospital with minor injuries.


Two people had to be cut from their cars by firefighters after a three-vehicle accident at the junction in July and Mr Kaz said he had heard near misses there throughout the summer.


He added: “It’s usually cars trying to pull out of Roebuck Lane and it’s usually people slamming on their brakes.


“It’s always happening – every couple of months.”


He said the circular flower bed to the south of the junction could be used to create a roundabout to slow traffic down.


He added: “What infuriates me is nothing has been done to attempt to solve the problem.


“I’ve lived here about 11 years. There have never been traffic lights. All that’s been done is two of the roads have been made one-way.”


A police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating the collision as well as continuing to try and trace the Fiat and its driver.”