A woman seen walking down the fast lane of the A3 caused a driver to swerve off the road and crash into a wall, it has been claimed.

Police, paramedics and firefighters were all called to Woodfield Gardens, just off the northbound carriageway in New Malden, after a silver Vauxhall Astra came off the road and went through a garden wall on Saturday, January 11.

The driver, a 21-year-old-man, was taken to hospital with a leg injury, which was not thought to be serious.

But a resident who saw the aftermath of the accident said police told her the crash was caused by a woman seen walking down the third lane of the motorway.

The witness, who did not want to be named, said: “Apparently there was a woman walking in the fast lane.

“The car swerved to avoid her and two other cars swerved as well, although only one hit the wall.

“Police said they had originally been called to investigate the woman in the fast lane, and they arrived just after the accident.

“The woman disappeared.

“It’s a good thing nobody was hurt. A wall can be fixed – it could have been much worse.”

Police are yet to comment on the claims.