In an unusual incident, a car crashed and flipped upside down right outside the entrance to Southend Hospital’s A&E department.
The vehicle, believed to have been driving within the hospital car park, smashed through a sturdy metal barrier before overturning and coming to rest on its roof.
The crash happened mere feet from the ambulance handover bays — the area where paramedics transfer patients into the hospital’s emergency department.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene, with multiple ambulances already stationed in the waiting area when the crash occurred. One bystander said: “It was a miracle no one was injured — the car just came out of nowhere and flipped. Everyone rushed over.”
Essex Police were dispatched to the scene, alongside a specialist vehicle recovery team, who began the job of removing the upturned car.
While details are still emerging, it’s understood the driver sustained only minor injuries.
How does a car flip upside down in a car park?
It’s surprisingly easy for a car to end up on its roof – even in a relatively confined space like a car park. If a vehicle hits a kerb or low barrier at speed, the sudden jolt to the wheels combined with the momentum of the car can be enough to cause it to roll. Uneven surfaces, poor visibility, and driver distraction can all play a role. In this case, police will be looking closely at how the vehicle managed to gain enough speed to flip over.
An A&E department under redevelopment
Southend Hospital’s A&E department is currently undergoing a major redevelopment aimed at improving patient flow and increasing capacity. The multi-million-pound project includes a new resuscitation area, additional triage space, and an expanded waiting area — part of wider NHS plans to modernise urgent care services in Essex.
While the construction is expected to ease long-term pressure on the department, it has led to some short-term disruption and congestion around the hospital site – something which staff have been working hard to manage.
A spokesperson for Southend University Hospital said: “Security and emergency services quickly responded to the incident last night.
“Care was given to the driver and the car was removed after hitting a barrier.
“No other vehicles or people were involved and Southend’s Emergency Department and Southend Hospital remained open to patients as normal.”