Highbury, Islington crash: Driver ploughs into row of shops then runs off

A motorist mounted the pavement and ploughed into a parade of shops in Highbury Barn on Saturday (February 18).

Met Police officers were called to the incident in Highbury Park at around 7.45pm, after the crash. No injuries were reported.

The frontage of businesses including La Fromagerie and Highbury Dry Cleaners was damaged.

The force said the driver of the car fled the scene before officers arrived.

The road was closed while the scene was dealt with and an investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD6389/18Feb.

Green Party London Assembly member and Highbury councillor Caroline Russell said: “There is a problem with traffic belting up the hill from Blackstock Road - it’s not the first crash at Highbury Barn - luckily no one was walking along the pavement at the time.

“But it is still really serious for those businesses who have to get the damage to their shop fronts fixed.”

She added: “We do need to design main roads so they feel like places not motorways. Crucially, people driving should be able to maintain control of their vehicle to protect anyone who may be walking, cycling or crossing the road and to avoid crashing into local shops.”