What was meant to be a jubilant celebration of Liverpool’s historic league title turned to chaos and horror after a car ploughed into a crowd of fans, injuring 65 people, including four children, in what police believe was a drug-fuelled act of road rage.
The driver, a 53-year-old man from West Derby, is alleged to have followed an ambulance through a roadblock before driving into crowds at speeds of up to 30mph on Water Street, just minutes after Liverpool’s victory parade bus had passed. Police sources say it is a “miracle” that no one was killed.
He remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, driving under the influence of drugs, and dangerous driving.
A Parade Derailed
An estimated one million people had gathered in the city for the open-top bus celebration on Bank Holiday Monday. As the Liverpool squad made their way through the city, fans lined the streets in a sea of red.
But the celebration turned tragic around 6pm when the white Ford Galaxy, tailgating an ambulance en route to a medical emergency, forced its way through barriers and into a pedestrian-only zone on Water Street. Witnesses described horrifying scenes of fans being launched into the air and others pinned under the vehicle as it ploughed through the dense crowd.
Firefighters had to extract four people, including a child, from beneath the car. Footage posted on social media shows the car surrounded by screaming fans, some of whom tried to halt the vehicle, banging on its windows and attempting to open the driver’s door, only for the driver to resist and continue revving forward.
‘He Knew What He Was Doing’
Jack Trotter, who travelled from Northern Ireland with his girlfriend Abbie Gallagher, was among those hit. “It’s the thought that somebody tried to seriously injure me… kill me,” he told Sky News. “He knew fine well what he was doing. This was no accident.”
Trotter suffered injuries to his leg and back and was discharged from hospital yesterday on crutches. “I’ve got a little boy back home,” he said. “It’s the thought he could have been taking me away from him.”
Ms Gallagher described the terrifying moment she was hit by the car, losing contact with her partner in the chaos. “Everything was mental. Everyone was crying. I was hysterical. There’s people in the air. I freaked out.”
A Narrow Escape from Tragedy
Eleven people remain in hospital, but no fatalities have been reported, a fact police have called “remarkable, considering the carnage”. The King and Queen extended their sympathies, with King Charles calling the incident “truly devastating” and praising the emergency responders. Princess Anne visited staff at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and the Prince and Princess of Wales also sent messages of support to the victims and their families.
What Went Wrong?
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims of Merseyside Police defended the event’s security measures, stating that a “robust” traffic management plan had been in place, including closed roads and a heavy police presence, even rooftop snipers.
Water Street had been closed off with a truck acting as a roadblock. However, that barrier was briefly moved to allow access to an ambulance responding to a medical emergency, a gap the suspect used to gain entry.
CCTV footage from Dale Street, which had not been closed, shows the car slowly edging through crowds before reversing into a man and then accelerating forward. Video evidence shows supporters shouting, hitting the car and attempting to stop it, to no avail.
The vehicle eventually came to a stop 200 yards down Water Street, where it was surrounded by furious onlookers and intercepted by police. The driver was removed from the vehicle and arrested at the scene.
Officials Demand Answers
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited the cordon site alongside Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram, who said “legitimate questions” needed answering about how the car was able to enter a closed zone.
“There must be a full and thorough investigation into what happened, but today we are focused on the victims, their families, and the extraordinary bravery shown by emergency responders and members of the public,” Rotheram said.
The Prime Minister called the scenes “utter horror and devastation”, adding, “My thoughts and the thoughts of the whole country are with all of those that are affected.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described the incident as “sickening”, particularly in light of how many children were hurt.
This was meant to be a day of joy and pride for the city of Liverpool. Instead, it became a grim reminder of how quickly celebration can turn to tragedy, not through terrorism or mechanical failure, but, allegedly, through one man’s reckless, drug-driven rage.
