Driver believed to have tailgated ambulance onto Water Street after ‘robust’ security measures were lifted so paramedics could treat suspected heart attack
CCTV shows moment car enters parade street before hitting crowd of Liverpool fans
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A Liverpool fan run down during the club’s victory parade has recalled how he “locked eyes” with the driver and “pleaded for him to stop” moments before being hit.
Jack Trotter, 22, had travelled from Northern Ireland with his girlfriend, Abbie Gallagher, 22, to celebrate on Water Street when he was struck by a Ford Galaxy.
“Abbie was a few feet ahead of me, and I was just taking videos singing with Liverpool fans I’d never even met before,” Mr Trotter said. “Then I just heard her screaming my name, I put my phone down and by then I was face to face with the car.
“He had slowed down. And then I put my hands up and pleaded for him to stop, and he wasn’t stopping. Then he clipped me.”
Other fans helped Mr Trotter into a nearby pub until paramedics arrived. He was among more than 50 people injured, including children. Eleven remained in hospital on Tuesday in a stable condition.
A 53-year-old man from West Derby was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs. He remains in custody.
Have you been affected by this incident? Email Alexander.Ross@independent.co.uk
Key Points
'I pleaded for the driver to stop', recalls witness
Timeline: How the Liverpool car crash incident unfolded
Man, 53, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug-driving
Liverpool FC captain says he is 'praying for speedy recovery' of injured
14 minutes ago
Pictured: Princess Anne visits Liverpool hospital after parade crash
The Princess Royal was on Tuesday pictured visiting the Royal Liverpool University Hospital today following the parade crash.
Princess Anne met with members of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) team to thank emergency responders following the incident in Liverpool on Monday evening.
The Princess Royal meets with members of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) team during a visit to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital
The Princess Royal meets with members of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) team during a visit to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital
The Princess Royal chats to people during a visit to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (Peter Byrne/PA)
The Princess Royal chats to people during a visit to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (Peter Byrne/PA)
The Princess Royal meets with medical staff from the hospital team during the visit on Tuesday
The Princess Royal meets with medical staff from the hospital team during the visit on Tuesday (PA Wire)
Alex Croft28 May 2025 05:01
1 hour ago
Inside the aftermath of one of Liverpool’s darkest days
Treading slowly out of their Airbnb on to the heavily-policed street, the O’Brien family turned to inspect the aftermath of the appalling events the evening before.
Behind the tangled cordon, empty beer bottles and takeaway boxes were strewn across the deserted road. In the distance, a forensic officer checked the road surface for evidence.
For the sombre-looking family-of-four, it was like waking up from a violent nightmare, hoping it was just a dream. But it wasn’t.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the group were among thousands of joyous Liverpool fans packed into the street for their team’s Premier League-winning parade.
Our reporter Alex Ross writes from Liverpool:
Inside the aftermath of one of Liverpool’s darkest days
As questions swirl around Liverpool as to how a vehicle ploughed into dozens of people, Alex Ross finds a unified city steely in its determination to move forward
Alex Croft28 May 2025 04:01
2 hours ago
Witness recalls panic and tears as crowd surged into nearby bar
Liverpool fan Alex Todd, who runs Liverpool FC fan account ‘Don Kopleone’ on X, told The Independent about the horrifying scenes in the immediate aftermath of Monday’s incident.
He was part of a crowd which surged into a nearby Hooters bar as the car plowed through the celebrating fans just metres away.
“Suddenly, I heard lots of shouting, felt a surge push me and tens of others into the bar, while one guy who had been standing next to me turned and sprinted in the other direction towards what I would later learn was the car,” Mr Todd said.
As soon as he heard about the car, Mr Todd said he was “panicking” about his little sister who had got caught up in the crowd a few metres behind him.
“I saw her falling through a crowd into the bar about twenty seconds later and she burst into tears immediately, the car had only been a few metres away from her,” he added. “I texted family group chats immediately to let people know there had been some kind of incident but for the moment we were together and safe.”
The bar went under lockdown for the next hour, the 25-year-old said, before they were let out through the back doors “quite shaken up but thankfully all safe”.
Alex Croft28 May 2025 03:00
3 hours ago
Watch: Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash
Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash
Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash Source: BBC
Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash
Alex Croft28 May 2025 02:00
4 hours ago
Liverpool FC captain says he is 'praying for speedy recovery' of injured
Liverpool FC captain Virgil van Dijk said he is “praying for a speedy recovery” for all those injured in the crash following the club’s title parade.
The Dutch defender posted on Instagram: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Praying for a speedy recovery for everyone who suffered injuries.
“We are all with you.”
Screen grab taken from Instagram of a story posted by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (Virgil van Dijk/Instagram)
Screen grab taken from Instagram of a story posted by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk (Virgil van Dijk/Instagram)
Alex Croft28 May 2025 01:00
5 hours ago
'I will never forget seeing a woman stuck under the car'
Natasha Rinaldi, 31, was watching the parade from her friend’s flat on Water Street, Liverpool, when she heard “desperate screams” from below.
“We rushed over to the window and saw injured people all over the floor,” she told The Independent.
“We heard so many screams. I will never forget seeing a woman stuck under the car. It was so distressing. She was the last person to be rescued.”
Ms Rinaldi, a Liverpool FC fan for 12 years, said the collision, which injured 47 people including four children, had “destroyed” what was supposed to be a “very happy day”.
She said: “It is unbelievable. I had been dreaming of this day for so long. I have followed the club for years and go to the games all the time.
“Everyone was so happy. But after it, everyone was broken. It destroyed what was supposed to be a very happy day.”
Alex Croft28 May 2025 00:01
6 hours ago
Liverpool FC's boss thanks club's supporters who 'helped each other'
Liverpool FC chief executive Billy Hogan thanked the club’s supporters who “helped each other” after a car drove through fans celebrating in the city on Monday.
He said: “On behalf of all of us here at Liverpool Football Club, I would like to extend our heartfelt thoughts to all those who’ve been affected by this appalling incident on Water Street yesterday evening.
“This weekend was one of celebration, emotion and joy spread across the city in our entire fanbase, and it ended in unimaginable scenes of distress with this appalling incident.
“I’d like to pay tribute to our emergency services and partner agencies – Merseyside Police, North West and St John Ambulance Services, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue – who dealt with the incident, and now our hospital staff across the city who are dealing with those who are injured, including tragically four children.
“I would also like to thank our supporters who witnessed this event and helped each other where they could.
“We continue to work with the emergency services and the local authorities to support their ongoing investigation and once again we would ask if anyone ha
Alex Croft27 May 2025 23:00
6 hours ago
Watch: Princess Anne thanks emergency responders following Liverpool car crash
Princess Anne thanks emergency responders following Liverpool car crash
Princess Anne thanks emergency responders following Liverpool car crash Credit: PA
Princess Anne thanks emergency responders following Liverpool car crash
Alex Croft27 May 2025 22:30
7 hours ago
'I pleaded for the driver to stop', recalls witness
A Liverpool fan run down at the club’s victory parade has described how he “locked eyes” with the driver and “pleaded for him to stop” moments before the car ploughed into him.
Jack Trotter, 22, was enjoying celebrating his team’s success when he found himself “face to face” with the Ford Galaxy on Water Street in the city centre on Monday.
He told the PA news agency of the moment before he was struck by the car: “He had slowed down. And then I put my hands up and pleaded for him to stop, and he wasn’t stopping.
“Then he clipped me.” Mr Trotter said the incident was “very quick”.
“I did lock eyes with him,” he continued. “People were hitting his car, shouting at him. Everything was very dark. Everything was very blurry. He had ran through me by the time I could get a good look at him.
“When the car had hit me, the adrenaline kicked in, and I didn’t really, obviously feel anything. And then once I found my partner, the adrenaline wore off, and then I just collapsed on the wall and said ‘Abbie, that’s me, I’m gone”.
Alex Croft27 May 2025 22:00
7 hours ago
Flowers pictured at scene of horror crash
A Barbie keychain, flowers and cards lie on the ground near the site of an incident where a car plowed into a crowd of Liverpool fans
A Barbie keychain, flowers and cards lie on the ground near the site of an incident where a car plowed into a crowd of Liverpool fans
A total of 65 people were injured, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday
A total of 65 people were injured, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday
A 53-year-old man was arrested after the incident and remains in custody
A 53-year-old man was arrested after the incident and remains in custody (REUTERS)
Alex Croft27 May 2025 21:29
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