Man arrested after car ‘swerves’ into crowd of pedestrians celebrating New Year

A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a car ‘swerved’ into a crowd of people celebrating New Year in London.

Police were called to the scene at Primrose Hill at about 12.13am today after they were told a car had ‘crashed into a pedestrian during a fireworks display.’

After hitting a pedestrian, police said the driver attempted to speed off and hit another person on Primrose Hill Road.

Neighbours described ‘scenes of carnage’ after the car swerved into the crowd.

The area is a focal point for New Year celebrate with thousands of revellers massing in the area.

Liz Crampton, 51, told Metro: ‘It was wild last night. I’ve never seen so many people. I heard shouting and there was a car that looked like it was stuck in the crowd.

‘There were lots of road closures and bottlenecks. After the crash there were police everywhere and paramedics it was carnage.’

The incident happened outside the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin where a New Year’s Eve service was being held.

Video footage of the scene shows crowds of people running away from the scene and screaming after the car struck.

Police are seen quickly leaving their truck and rushing towards the crowd, while locals continue to run away.

A shopkeeper in Fabs Food which was open to we’ve revellers told Metro: ‘There were police running everywhere it was a shocking scene.’

Medical packs used to help the injured people were strewn across the road today. Meanwhile the road was cordoned off as investigators tracked the scene.

Detectives are collecting dashcam and other footage to piece together how the incident unfolded.

The Metropolitan Police said a 21-year-old man was hit by a vehicle. He sustained minor injuries and did not require medical treatment. 

A 59-year-old man, who was also struck, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing. 

The incident is not being treated as terror-related, the police added.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of controlled drugs.

It comes as police urged people to stay away from the area on New Year’s Eve after 16-year-old Harry Pitman was stabbed in the neck and died while watching fireworks at the viewpoint on December 31 two years ago.

Marking his death on the second anniversary, Harry’s grandad Philip Woolveridge told Metro: ‘It’s so difficult for us this time of year what with the second anniversary coming up. He was a wonderful boy that’s the truth. We miss him so much.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘At 00:13hrs on Wednesday, 1 January a vehicle was involved in a collision with a pedestrian at the junction of Regent’s Park Road and Primrose Hill Road.

‘The driver failed to stop at the scene, making off along Primrose Hill Road where a second pedestrian was struck.

‘Officers who were in the area as part of the New Year’s Eve policing operation located the vehicle a short distance away at the junction of Primrose Hill Road and King Henry’s Road.’

Police added: ‘A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of controlled drugs.

‘The pedestrian who was initially struck, a 21-year-old man, sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.

‘The second pedestrian who was struck, a 59-year-old man, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing.

‘An investigation is underway. This is not being treated as a terrorist incident.’

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