Campaigners worst fears: fatal accident on Sanford Street Deptford

Deptford's road safety campaigners have long raised concerns about dangers in the local area, and Sanford Street has a history of speeding vehicles with few safe crossing points.

Tragically, campaigners' worst fears have come true.

On Tuesday, 14 April at around 6.45 pm, a young woman in her 20s, a pedestrian, was killed in a hit and run accident on Sanford Street. The Met Police say that three arrests have now been made.

It was the second death by a collision in Lewisham this year, following the tragic loss of cyclist Irene Leardini in February.

A recent report by LBC found that in 2025, 96% of hit and runs in which cyclists were victims went unsolved.

A history of incidents

Along the length of Sanford Street, the only zebra crossing is outside Fordham Park.

Anyone trying to cross from Woodpecker estate lining the west of the street, or coming from the recently pedestrianised Cold Blow Lane and trying to reach the pedestrian and cycle path of Woodpecker Lane into Folkestone Gardens, has to cross the dangerous Sanford road.

Campaigners told Salamander they have made repeated requests for crossings in the area and on nearby Trundleys Road, and that the tragic accident is "another example of how the local community has been let down".

According to the data from Transport for London Road Safety, last week's deadly collision is one of many incidents on Sanford Street.

A series of incidents along the road have resulted in injured cyclists, motorcyclists and car occupants, at least three times a year for the last five years.

The road is part of Corridor 5, identified in Lewisham Council’s Active Travel Strategy. The corridor, which stretches from Crofton Park to Surrey Quays, ranks 10th out the 20 final prioritised corridors.

Campaigners warn of increasing density in the area, with new purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) in development.

Tribe's development on nearby Trundley’s Road will add 58 flats and 393 student rooms, leading to an increase in pedestrians and cyclists on this busy stretch.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London’s Transport Strategy sets 2041 as the goal for achieving Vision Zero: “It is neither inevitable nor acceptable that anyone should be killed or seriously injured when travelling in London. When we leave our homes each day, we should feel safe and confident about the journey ahead .”

Lewisham had an average of 5.2 pedestrian casualties per 100,000 daily walking stages, higher than the inner London borough average of 5.1, according to Healthy Streets Scorecard 2025.

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