Police boat crashes into London's Westminster Bridge, throwing officers into Thames River

A police boat collided with Westminster Bridge in central London on Friday, sending officers into the River Thames and injuring five crew members, the Metropolitan Police reported. Paramedics treated the injured on a black inflatable boat as a police helicopter hovered nearby. The cause of the crash remains unclear, and the Metropolitan Police stated it would be thoroughly reviewed. Mateo Bilis-Lusevic, a 12-year-old visitor from Chile, described seeing two boats moving at high speed before hearing a "boom." He witnessed three people thrown into the water, with one appearing seriously injured. He estimated the officers were in the water for about 10 minutes, and one was given a life ring. No civilian injuries were immediately reported. A large crowd gathered to observe the emergency response, which included ambulances and fire crews. The bridge was closed to traffic, and the Port of London Authority assisted in managing river traffic alongside the Metropolitan Police and Coastguard.

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Two boats were riding extremely fast through the water. Suddenly, I heard a boom. I was looking towards the boat, and I heard a boom. Then three people went flying into the water, and one of the people was really hurt.