A speeding Mercedes crashed into the side of a double-decker bus on the King’s Road early on Monday morning (7th April).

Widespread traffic chaos spread out across west Chelsea for a period of around two hours as police rushed to close lower King’s Road (west), Cremorne Road and Gunter Grove. There was gridlock the length of Lots Road, Edith Grove and Chelsea Embankment as drivers were diverted.

The driver of the silver Mercedes is believed to have been high on nitrous oxide, more widely known as laughing gas, when the collision happened. Multiple large canisters of the Fastgas brand – usually used for making whipped cream – were found in the footwell of the passenger seat.

 

Being in possession of nitrous oxide with intent to use “to get high” was made a criminal offence by the government in November 2023, due to the escalation in its wrongful use. Offenders face an “unlimited fine”, or a “community punishment”. It is not known at this stage what criminal penalty there is for driving under the influence of the gas.

Monday’s accident happened on the crossroads between the King’s Road and Gunter Grover. I is believed the Mercedes was driving at speed up the King’ Road towards World’s End. It collided with the buss as it turned right, to head north up Gunter Grove.

The bus was Not in Service at the time of the accident, so no passengers were on board. One of the passengers in the car was injured and taken to hospital. His injuries were not life threatening.

 

NB: The Citizen will be finding out from TFL and the police what will happen to the driver, as well as how compensation for damage to the bus will paid.

It is unclear at the stage how much it costs to close roads, call countless numbers of police and repair a bus!

 

A useless aside, for your further education: Laughing gas was discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1772, a Yorkshire-born clergyman, politician and scientist. He became something of an expert on gases and even identified oxygen no less, which is no laughing matter. RMc