Car ploughs into 17 people at 'cruising' event, seriously injuring teenage girl

A large crowd were watching vehicles performing 'stunts' in a store's car park on Tavistock Road, Plymouth

The event was held in the car park of a large store in Plymouth

Seventeen people have been injured – one seriously – after a vehicle careered off the road and into a crowd at a ‘cruising’ event.

The social gathering was being held at a car park on Tavistock Road in Plymouth, with a large number of cars and people watching drivers show off their ‘tricks’.

One of the vehicles lost control and ploughed into pedestrians resulting in 16 sustaining minor injuries and leaving one 16-year-old girl seriously injured. She was taken to Derriford Hospital.

According to the Plymouth Herald, the teenage girl hit the windscreen of a red Ford Fiesta Zetec as its driver attempted to stage a ‘burnout,’ where its wheels spin while remaining stationary.

A portion of the audience also reportedly included children in prams, in a huddled group of 500 within the car park of a B&Q.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Ambulance crews, police and an off-duty firefighter helped all of those who were injured, the BBC reports.

“One vehicle lost control while performing their driving technique and ended up striking 17 members of the public,” a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said.

“There was a significant police and ambulance response and fortunately none of those hurt are considered to have suffered life-threatening injuries but a male has been arrested and is due to be interviewed.

“There was a lot of people taken to Derriford Hospital by ambulance. So the service was stretched last night but they did a good job.”

Officers are now appealing for witnesses to the incident. Anyone with information can cool 101 and quote log number 1025 of 26 July.