What happened during the Liverpool parade crash

By George Lithgow, PA

A driver has been arrested after allegedly ploughing into a crowd at Liverpool’s victory parade.

More than 50 people, including children, were treated in different hospitals and 11 people remained there in a stable condition.

Here, the PA news agency looks at how the events unfolded.

POLICE Liverpool
(PA Graphics/PA) Photo by PA Graphics

– End of the parade

As the parade drew to a close on Monday evening, thousands of fans began making their way home. The area was closed off, with no vehicles allowed in. As reports emerged of someone suffering a heart attack in the crowd, a road block was temporarily lifted to let an ambulance crew in. Police think the Ford Galaxy was able to slip through behind it.

– Dale Street

Footage of the incident circulating online appears to show the people carrier on Dale Street, just off the parade route. Surrounded by fans, the car suddenly reverses, hitting a person. The crowd reacts angrily, kicking and punching the vehicle. It reverses again, striking another bystander. Moments later, the car speeds forward, with fans chasing after it.

A police officer helps a man after a car crashed into a crowd during an incident in Liverpool
More than 50 people were injured in the incident (Owen Humphreys/PA) Photo by Owen Humphreys

From another angle, footage shows people trying to get to the driver. One person manages to open the driver’s door, and an object is thrown, smashing the rear window. The driver quickly slams the door shut, then accelerates, veering into pedestrians on both sides of the congested street.

– Water Street

Footage taken as the car made its way down Dale Street and onto the connecting Water Street shows the vehicle ploughing into a crowd of people having gone around an ambulance. As the car finally comes to a stop, fans surge towards it and desperately try to get to the driver.

A man is helped from the scene by firefighters after a car crashed into a crowd in Liverpool
A man is helped from the scene by firefighters (Owen Humphreys/PA) Photo by Owen Humphreys

Videos show the aftermath of the incident, with injured people, a paramedic’s bicycle and scattered debris littering the street.

– Arrest

Officers quickly surround the car and detain the driver. A large number of officers could then be seen guarding the vehicle moments after the collision and pushing back fans.

The 53-year-old driver has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving and drug driving.

The man, from the West Derby area of Liverpool, remains in custody where he is being interviewed.