A lone driver’s decision to tailgate an ambulance into a pedestrian area sparks a terrifying scene of carnage during Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade

A jubilant atmosphere turned to chaos on Monday evening as a driver’s reckless actions brought the celebrations to a brutal halt. The incident occurred as the Liverpool players’ open-top bus made its way along the Strand, a main road along the Mersey waterfront, as part of the club’s first victory parade in 35 years. The parade, which was attended by up to a million fans, was a highly anticipated event, with the city’s residents and visitors alike eager to witness the club’s triumph.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as “terrifying” as the driver, a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area, allegedly tailgated an ambulance into an area closed to vehicles. The car, a grey Ford Galaxy, was allowed into the pedestrian zone, sparking anger among the hundreds of fans in the area. The driver’s decision to enter the restricted area was reportedly made possible due to the ambulance’s priority access, which allowed the car to slip through the barriers undetected.

As the driver attempted to reverse, a man was seen pounding on the rear window, prompting the driver to lurch forward and sound the horn. The car then sped towards Liverpool town hall, with fans running out of its way. The vehicle was eventually surrounded by a crowd, who began pounding on the roof, bonnet, and windscreen. The driver, seemingly desperate to escape, continued to accelerate, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

In a matter of seconds, a scene of carnage unfolded as the car initially reversed and appeared to knock over people behind, before bolting forward at an alarming speed. A man wearing a red Liverpool top and rucksack was knocked onto the bonnet, spinning round as he hit the windscreen before tumbling to the street. Several people were caught under the wheels or violently knocked to either side of the vehicle, with some being taken to hospital on stretchers or wheelchairs.

The incident was quickly brought under control by police, who detained the driver and attended to the injured. The driver was later identified as a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area, and was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Merseyside police later announced that the driver had been arrested, and urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, with many accusing the police of withholding information about the driver’s ethnicity. Social media was filled with speculation and conspiracy theories, with some accusing the police of covering up the truth. However, Merseyside police maintained that they were working to establish the facts and would release further information as soon as possible.

As the city comes to terms with the shocking events, the public is left to demand the truth about the incident. “The public deserve to know the full facts as quickly as possible,” said shadow home secretary Chris Philp in a statement. “We need to understand what happened and why, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

The incident has also raised questions about the safety of large-scale events and the measures in place to prevent such incidents. An investigation into the incident is currently underway, and it is expected that the findings will be made public in the coming days.