A large scaffolding structure was ripped down by high winds crashing into a van on one of Hackney’s most popular high streets, witnesses said.
The three-storey structure tore away from a public library on Stoke Newington Church Street early on Wednesday morning.
Stoke Newington councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas explained that a vehicle had been damaged as the scaffolding crashed to the ground.
Hackney Council confirmed that no one was injured in the crash and explained the road has been shut to traffic and pedestrians between Edward’s Lane and Albion Road.
Eyewitness Ali Alagoz had been walking towards The Parlour coffee shop, where he worked described how “It happened right in front of my eyes. It was about 7.30am and it was really windy.“
“It just ripped off. I was in shock. It just banged on the floor.
“There was a vehicle passing through. I ran to it and tried to see if he was okay.He wasn’t injured but he was shaken.“
He explained two or three people had also been walking nearby and were forced to run away to avoid being hit.
His brother Emrah Alagoz added: “This was happening at 7.30am in the morning. Imagine if it ended up happening on Saturday afternoon.“
“Imagine this happening in the school term or when the schools are open.“
Paddy Boyce, 36, had just walked beneath the scaffolding when he heard the crash.
He said: “I was walking down to work and was walking down Church Street.“I had unlocked the bottom lock and was just about to do the shutter when I heard a noise and turned around to find the scaffolding on the floor.
“20 seconds before I would have been walking under the road there.It was a little bit sketchy.”
The 36-year-old, who works at Two Wheels Good bike shop immediately called 999.
He added: “If that had been term time or Saturday afternoon there would have been 10-20 people walking underneath it.”
Police and council workers remain at the scene and buses have been diverted.
Cllr Fajana-Thomas added that the Health and Safety Executive had been informed about the crash.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “ We were called at 7.43am to a report of scaffolding that had collapsed onto a road, including onto a vehicle, on Stoke Newington Church Street.
“It was reported that a man was potentially trapped inside the vehicle but firefighters discovered upon arrival that he had been able to leave his vehicle safely.
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“He was assessed at the scene by firefighters but was uninjured.
“There were no reports of any other injures. Some local residents have been evacuated as a precaution and a cordon remains in place with a road closure near the junction of Albion Road.
“Two fire engines from Stoke Newington and Holloway fire stations attended the scene alongside a fire rescue unit from Bethnal Green fire station."