A driver struck seven pedestrians, including a baby, at a Christmas market in Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol, leaving five adults and two children injured. The incident, which authorities believe was an accident, involved an elderly driver thought to be in his 80s.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. Esra Ward, a stall operator at the market, told the BBC: “The car was parked, and suddenly we saw him accelerate coming out of his parking space and hit a couple of people.”
Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene to treat the injured.
“There was a mum with a baby in a pushchair in front of the car. Apparently at the back he has hit a few more people, a family. They had ambulances and police and fire all here in about five minutes,” Ward said.
Despite the accident, organizers announced that the market would remain open, with safety measures being reviewed. Local authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, and the elderly driver is cooperating with inquiries.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in crowded public spaces, especially during busy holiday events.
