A large section of scaffolding collapsed onto a van on Stoke Newington Church Street in north London on Wednesday morning, trapping a driver underneath.
The incident happened at around 07:30 am on April 16 outside the long-closed Stoke Newington Library. Around three lifts of sheeted scaffolding came down, blocking the road and pavement.
The driver was helped from the vehicle by members of the public and was not injured. London Fire Brigade confirmed that several nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Photos from the scene show debris scattered across the street, with multiple cordons in place. Police directed pedestrians away from the area while clean-up operations got underway.
Hackney Council’s Health and Safety team and TfL’s Incident Response Unit were also present at the scene.
The scaffolding had reportedly been in place for nearly three years. The Grade II-listed Stoke Newington Library, where the structure was erected, closed in March 2023 for a two-year refurbishment project.
The cause of the collapse has not been officially confirmed, though strong winds at the time are believed to have been a contributing factor.
The Health and Safety Executive has been notified.
