A car burst into flames and nine people injured in a road collision at the weekend.

The incident in City Road, Finsbury, happened at the junction with Central Street just before 2pm on Saturday and involved a white car which collided with three parked vehicles, one of which caught on fire.

Police investigating said they believed the same vehicle – a Vauxhall Insignia – had also been involved in two earlier minor collisions in Caledonian Road and Upper Street, Islington.

Of the nine people who sustained injuries, two men in one of the stationary vehicles, both in their 30s, were taken to the Royal London Hospital in a serious condition – one with injuries to his head and leg, the other to his back and chest.

The driver of the van, in his late 40s, along with another man in one of the parked cars suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries.

A man and woman in their 40s, along with a child, were also taken to hospital with minor injuries, while a second family of three – a couple in their 30s with a baby – were treated at the scene but did not need further medical attention.

London Ambulance Service, duty station officer Steve Ford said: “It was quite a challenging scene which involved several cars. But we worked well with our colleagues from London Fire and the Met Police to help remove patients from vehicles and treat them before taking them to hospital.”

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said fire crews from Islington and Clerkenwell stations attended the scene and put out the blaze engulfing one of the cars as well as helping to free a man trapped in one of the vehicles.

Police enquiries into the circumstances of the collision continue, led by specialist traffic officers. There have been no arrests.

Anyone with information about the incident should call 020 8842 1817 or speak anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.