Woman freed from car using hydraulic equipment after A2 collision near Southfleet
Kent Fire and Rescue Service removed a car door to extract a trapped woman following a two-vehicle crash on the A2.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended a road traffic collision involving two cars on the A2 near Southfleet on the morning of 4 February 2024. Two fire engines were dispatched to the scene of the crash.
Firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment to remove a car door and free a woman who had become trapped inside one of the vehicles. Once freed, the woman was passed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service.
The incident occurred on the A2 near Southfleet, within the Dartford area of Kent. Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended the incident alongside fire crews.
Emergency Response Operations
The use of hydraulic rescue equipment indicates that the vehicle structure was sufficiently damaged or access was restricted enough to require technical extrication rather than self-rescue. Kent Fire and Rescue Service maintains specialist hydraulic cutting and spreading tools for extricating casualties from vehicles.
No fatalities were reported by Kent Fire and Rescue Service in their published incident summary. The service’s incident log recorded the attendance during the morning hours of 4 February, though exact timing was not specified in the public summary.
Multi-Agency Response
Multi-agency response to serious road traffic collisions in Kent involves coordination between Kent Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Kent Police attendance included scene safety management, traffic control and initial collision investigation procedures.
The A2 is a major trunk road in Kent that connects London with the M2 and the Channel ports, carrying high volumes of commuter and freight traffic daily. Southfleet is a village near Gravesend and Dartford, positioned close to key routes including the A2 and A227.
Road Safety Context
Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended 1,156 road traffic collisions across Kent and Medway during the financial year 2022-23, according to the service’s annual performance data. The A2 forms part of the strategic road network in the South East managed by National Highways.
Across Great Britain, 132,063 road casualties of all severities were reported in 2022, including 1,711 reported road deaths, according to Department for Transport statistics.
Incident Details
- Kent Fire and Rescue Service used hydraulic cutting equipment to remove a car door and free a trapped woman from a two-car collision on the A2 near Southfleet
- Two fire engines attended the scene alongside Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service
- The incident occurred during morning hours on 4 February 2024
Traffic Impact
Drivers using the A2 near Southfleet experienced disruption during emergency operations. The collision occurred on a busy section of the A2 corridor between Dartford and Gravesend during morning hours when commuter traffic volumes are typically elevated.
Source: @kentfirerescue
Published: 25 May 2026