A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being hit by a stolen car in Westcliff. Emergency services, including police and paramedics, were called at around 7.30am on Thursday 16 April to Crowstone Road following reports of a serious collision.
It’s reported that a white Mercedes C-Class, registration YD14 OHT, struck a man before leaving the scene.
The victim, a man in his 40s, was given immediate treatment at the roadside by members of the public, police officers and ambulance crews. Doctors were also flown in by the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, which landed in Chalkwell Park to support the response.
He was then taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
The man is believed to be a local Westcliff resident, living with his family including children, and works as a taxi driver in Southend.
Colleagues pay tribute
Colleagues in the local taxi community have shared their support. A taxi driver at Jenny’s Taxis in Southend said: “We’re all thinking of our fellow taxi driver who has been left in a life-threatening condition after a hit and run, simply getting out of his car – completely innocent, and the result of reckless driving.
“Our thoughts are with him and his family during this devastating time. He’s a genuinely lovely, quiet, kind man with a great sense of humour, and it’s heartbreaking to see something like this happen to someone so undeserving. Please keep him and his loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”
“I then performed CPR”
One of the first people on the scene, local resident Sunny Ripley, has been praised for his quick and courageous actions in performing CPR.
He said: “At around 7:23am there was a very loud bang followed by two white cars driving down the road abruptly.
“The car in front appeared to be blocking the car behind which was the white Mercedes and was the car that hit the taxi driver. It was banged up badly and was ramming through the cars in front by the Imperial Avenue junction.
“I ran over to the taxi driver who landed about two cars away from his taxi. His taxi door was open and bent towards the bonnet – he appeared to have been getting out of the taxi as his keys were in the road.
“The taxi driver was unconscious and I called 999 straight away for him. But I noticed he wasn’t breathing so I rolled him onto his back and saw he was in critical condition.
“I then performed CPR. I can’t appreciate enough how quick the ambulance and police turned up, in about 5 minutes or less.
“To his family: I wish you all the love and strength in your time of need and I wish him a speedy recovery. Get well soon.”
A relative of the victim, Shihab Ali, said: “We really appreciate what Sunny and others did. Thank you for your help from all our family members. My brother is still in critical care in the Royal London hospital.”
Stolen car found abandoned
Police later found the Mercedes abandoned in Britannia Road a short time after the incident. The vehicle has since been recovered and is undergoing forensic examination.
Officers have confirmed the car had been stolen earlier that morning, at around 1am, from an address in Sutton Road, Southend.
The investigation is continuing, with detectives releasing CCTV images of both the vehicle and a man they want to speak to.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We are releasing an image of the vehicle and are asking anyone who saw it in the vicinity of the roads mentioned on Thursday 16 April to come forward.
“Equally, if you have any dash cam, CCTV or doorbell footage showing the vehicle, or anything else of relevance from that day, please get in touch.
“Detectives are continuing a number of enquiries across the Westcliff and wider Southend area as they work to establish the circumstances of the collision and identify a suspect. In particular, we want to speak to the man pictured.
“While we appreciate the image is not the clearest, if you recognise him or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact us.”
Officers are continuing house-to-house enquiries, reviewing CCTV and carrying out forensic work, while neighbourhood policing teams remain in the area to reassure residents.
Anyone with information or footage that could help is urged to contact Essex Police, quoting incident 177 of 16 April.
You can submit information via the dedicated investigation portal here: https://bit.ly/PoliceAppeal-OperationFan
Air ambulance response highlights vital role
The incident saw the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance deployed, bringing a critical care team directly to the scene.
The charity provides advanced, life-saving treatment at the roadside, effectively delivering hospital-level care before a patient even reaches A&E.
Unlike NHS ambulance services, Essex and Herts Air Ambulance receives no regular government funding and relies heavily on public donations to keep operating.
Incidents like this underline just how vital that support is, with specialist doctors and paramedics able to intervene in the most serious emergencies across Essex and Hertfordshire.
You can make a donation here to support their work: https://bit.ly/EssexAndHertsAirAmbulance