The scene of the crash in Purley Pic: ThackrayGraham – Twitter

A motorcyclist has died following a fatal crash in Croydon this morning (October 17).

Police were called to Purley Way, Croydon, at around 8.15am following reports of a crash between a motorcycle and a van. The man, believed to be in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene, despite extensive resuscitation efforts.

TfL tweeted at around 8.50am saying the busy main road (A23) was closed between Waddon Road and Commerce Way. The cordon has been lifted in the last hour, however police are advising motorists to avoid the area, as traffic between Waddon and Croydon remains heavy. Vehicles are said to be queuing back to Croydon Flyover, with delays of around 25 minutes.

David Gilbert, 40, was in the McDonald’s on Purley Way near Waddon train station when the crash happened. He told the Croydon Advertiser: “I was sitting down when I heard sirens, loads of sirens.

“I got up to look and there were police on bikes and in cars going towards Purley Way. Now I know what’s happened it’s so sad. A young lad stopped in here because he thought it might be his dad.”

Enquiries are still underway to trace the man’s next of kin. Formal identification awaits. The driver of the van stopped and is now assisting officers with enquiries. No arrests have been made