The road was blocked while emergency services dealt with the incident
16:14, 22 Aug 2025Updated 16:35, 22 Aug 2025
The scene on Kensington(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
A road was closed after a street cleaner crashed into a William Hill betting shop. Emergency services were called to Kensington, near to Sheil Road, at around 11.30am on Friday, August 22.
It followed an incident involving a street sweeping vehicle which crashed into a shop window, causing the vehicle to flip on its side. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said the person was out the vehicle when firefighters arrived and was in care of paramedics from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).
A spokesperson for the fire service said the person’s injuries are understood to be minor but they were taken to hospital. Kensington was closed in both directions while emergency services dealt with the incident.
One eyewitness said they were leaving Home Bargains with their mum when they heard a “loud crash” and saw “windows shattered”. They saw a vehicle had crashed near to the William Hill shop.
Another person who was at the scene said: “I didn’t see it but I heard it. I ran out and it had already happened. It was a massive bang.” Speaking to the ECHO, another person added how people rushed to the scene to help anyone involved in the crash.
The fire service said the search and rescue team assessed the structural integrity of the shop, which was found to be “structurally safe”.
Emergency services on Kensington(Image: LCRFM)
In a statement, a spokesperson added: “Crews applied a special absorbent material to fluid leaking from the vehicle and made the scene safe. Merseyside Police were in attendance managing traffic and Liverpool City Council were also in attendance arranging recovery of the vehicle.
“The incident was handed over to Merseyside Police and crews left the scene at 12.11pm.”
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council confirmed the incident involved one of the authority’s street cleaning vehicles.
They said: “We can confirm that one of our street cleansing vehicles was involved in a road traffic accident on the corner of Holt Road and Prescot Road. We are working closely with emergency services as they investigate.”
Merseyside Police were approached for a statement.
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here.
Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk – official Liverpool ECHO accounts – real news in real time.
We’re also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho – your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Join the Liverpool ECHO Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community to receive the latest news straight to your phone by clicking here.
Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here.