‘Carnage’ after man hit and killed in car crash outside London court

Witnesses have described ‘proper carnage’ after a man was run over and killed near a magistrates’ court in north west London.

Rubin Nunes, 34, from Peterborough, was ploughed into and left with fatal injuries by a car collision on Chapel Close, Willesden, just after 1.30pm on Wednesday.

Another man, also in his 30s, has been taken to hospital where his injuries are not thought to be life-changing or life-threatening.

Dozens of police rushed to the scene, outside Willesden Magistrates’ Court, after the incident unfolded.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder earlier today. He remains in custody.

Joe McPherson, 47, who was working nearby at the time of the crash, told Metro: ‘There was a bang, really loud, and the scraping of metal. It sounded like a nasty accident.

‘There were quite a few people around because of the time of day and they scattered. Then the police came, loads of them, and I saw cars smashed into each other – it was proper carnage.’

The road has remained cordoned off on Thursday as forensics officers studied the wreckage of two vehicles, including a black Mercedes.

A security guard at a local business said he grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran towards the smoking Mercedes after the impact as two suspects ran from the vehicle.

He told Metro: ‘There was a huge noise after the car crashed. Two guys ran from the car. It was a smoking I thought it may blow up, so I got a fire extinguisher. There was a guy on the ground.’

The guard added he saw a policeman at the scene and the victim getting chest compressions, but he was ‘too badly injured’. He alleged the collision seemed ‘intentional’ rather than ‘accidental’, saying at the ‘speed of the impact, no one could have survived’.

He said: ‘Staff from the court also tried to help – we did our best.’

Another witness, a mother-of-three who lives opposite the scene of the crash, said: ‘There was a massive bang then shouting. I looked across and there was what looked like a bad accident.

‘Two cars were smashed head on into each other. Lots of police and ambulances arrived. It was very distressing they seemed to be treating a man on the ground.’

Medical packs lay strewn across the ground and a crime scene tent marked where the victim lay with his injuries.

Detectives have been trawling through CCTV from the area, including from cameras on the court.

But it is not at this stage believed that the incident was connected to the court or anyone appearing there.

Traffic on the busy Willesden High Road has been diverted because of the road closure.

Passing the scene, one person reported seeing the ‘air ambulance, police fire, screaming, road closed’.

A spokesperson for London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at 12.41pm to reports of a road traffic collision at the junction of Chapel Close and Chantry Crescent, NW10.

‘We sent resources to the scene including an ambulance crew, paramedics in fast response cars and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.

‘Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.’

The London Fire Brigade said: ‘Firefighters were called to a road traffic collision involving multiple vehicles on Chapel Close in Willesden.

‘The Brigade was called at 12.49 and one fire engine from Willesden Fire Station attended the scene.’

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area for the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘This is a distressing incident and we understand the concern it will cause for the local community.

‘Our thoughts are with Ruben’s family and friends at this difficult time.

‘If you live nearby, you can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while officers carry out their investigation. This will include an increase of officers on patrol – please do speak to them if you have any worries or concerns.

‘You can also speak directly to local ward officers by signing up to and using Met Engage.

‘If you know what happened, or have dashcam or mobile phone footage of the incident, it is important that you please come forward and contact us.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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