A car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market, leaving seven people injured, including children.
The terrifying incident took place at a Christmas fair in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, around lunchtime today.
It is understood that a man in his 80s was trying to maneuver out of a parking space when he lost control and crashed into a large crowd of people.
This left seven people injured, including a small child and a baby. However, police have assured the public that no one suffered life-threatening or life-changing injuries.
A witness, Esra Ward, saw the entire horrific incident unfold near her pizza stall in the market.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “We were talking to customers in front of our van.
“The car was parked and suddenly we saw it accelerate out of its parking space and hit a couple of people.
«In front of the car there was a mother with a baby in a stroller. Apparently he has hit some more people, a family, from behind. In about five minutes they had ambulances, police and firefighters here.
The terrifying incident took place at a Christmas fair in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, around lunchtime today.
It is understood that an elderly man in his 80s was trying to maneuver out of a parking space when he lost control and crashed into a large crowd of people.
Victoria Day Christmas markets were not canceled following the incident after police said they could remain open.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Avon and Somerset Police advised Victorian Day organizers not to cancel the event.
In a Facebook post, organizers said: ‘As many of you know, there has been an incident at the top of the High Street. We have been advised by the police not to cancel today’s event so the rest of High Street from Hobbs House Bakery to Broad Street and Horse Street remains open.
“We ask everyone attending today not to take photographs of the incident and not speculate on social media as we work with the emergency services to help people who need assistance.”
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed: “We were called at midday on Sunday 1 December to a report of a car which had collided at low speed with pedestrians whilst maneuvering out of a parking space.”
They added: “The driver, believed to be a man in his eighties, and seven pedestrians, including five adults and two children, were assessed by an ambulance crew at the scene.
“We would like to reassure people that, despite the large emergency response, no one is currently described as having life-threatening or life-changing injuries.”
The South West Ambulance Service said it received a call at 11.58am and five ambulances, an air ambulance and various other resources were sent to the scene.
Organizers of Chipping Sodbury Christmas Sunday confirmed on Facebook that the event is still going ahead.
They said: ‘As many of you know, there has been an incident at the top of the High Street.
‘We have been advised by the police not to cancel today’s event so the rest of High Street from Hobbs House Bakery to Broad Street and Horse Street remains open.
“We ask everyone attending today not to take photographs of the incident and not speculate on social media as we work with the emergency services to help people who need assistance.”