Australia

Car crashes into Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station crowd

  • A white SUV crashed into the crowd of pedestrians near to Flinders Street Station during peak hour Thursday
  • At least 14 people are in hospital, several critical including one child with serious head injuries
  • Witnesses described seeing the car run a red light and hurtle towards the crowds, hitting a tram stop bollard
  • One said: 'It just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere'
  • The incident comes almost a year after the Bourke Street Mall rampage and brought the CBD to a standstill

By Emily Pidgeon and Daniel Piotrowski In Melbourne For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 01:08 EST, 21 December 2017 | Updated: 03:53 EST, 21 December 2017

More than a dozen pedestrians, including a toddler, have been injured after a car 'deliberately' ploughed into rush hour crowds amid chaotic scenes in the heart of Melbourne.

The drama unfolded as the white Suzuki SUV crashed into the group of panicked commuters and shoppers at the corner of Melbourne's busy Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street at 4.41pm on Thursday.

At least 14 people, one in a serious condition, were taken to hospital including a pre-school aged child with serious head injuries.

It is unknown if this is a terror related incident although police believe it was a deliberate act.

Two men in the vehicle, who were driving the car with green P plates, have been arrested and are in police custody.

More than a dozen pedestrians, including a toddler, have been injured after a car ploughed into rush hour crowds (pictured)

More than a dozen pedestrians, including a toddler, have been injured after a car ploughed into rush hour crowds (pictured)

Chaotic scenes unfolded during peak-hour as the white SUV crashed into the group of panicked pedestrians (pictured)Chaotic scenes unfolded during peak-hour as the white SUV crashed into the group of panicked pedestrians (pictured)

Chaotic scenes unfolded during peak-hour as the white SUV crashed into the group of panicked pedestrians (pictured)

Footage shows one of the men in a white shirt with a beard (pictured) being pulled to the gutter away from the vehicle Footage shows one of the men in a white shirt with a beard (pictured) being pulled to the gutter away from the vehicle 

Footage shows one of the men in a white shirt with a beard (pictured) being pulled to the gutter away from the vehicle

Two men were arrested at the scene after the white SUV (pictured) crashed into a bollard at Flinders Street StationTwo men were arrested at the scene after the white SUV (pictured) crashed into a bollard at Flinders Street Station

Two men were arrested at the scene after the white SUV (pictured) crashed into a bollard at Flinders Street Station

Footage shows one of the men in a white shirt with a beard being pulled to the gutter away from the vehicle.

The second man in a red checked shirt, also with a beard, was arrested a short time later.

An eye-witness described seeing the car hurtling towards the crowd.

She told radio station 3AW: 'It just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere.

'We heard thump, thump. People are running everywhere.'

Victoria Police dragged the man in a white shirt (pictured) from the white Suzuki to the gutter shortly after the incidentVictoria Police dragged the man in a white shirt (pictured) from the white Suzuki to the gutter shortly after the incident

Victoria Police dragged the man in a white shirt (pictured) from the white Suzuki to the gutter shortly after the incident

Footage shows the damaged car surrounded by dozens of injured pedestrians while police arrest the driver (pictured)Footage shows the damaged car surrounded by dozens of injured pedestrians while police arrest the driver (pictured)

Footage shows the damaged car surrounded by dozens of injured pedestrians while police arrest one man (pictured)

The second man in a red checked shirt, also with a beard (pictured), was arrested a short time after the 'deliberate' incidentThe second man in a red checked shirt, also with a beard (pictured), was arrested a short time after the 'deliberate' incident

The second man in a red checked shirt, also with a beard (pictured), was arrested a short time after the 'deliberate' incident

Dozens of people were hit by the car with witnesses saying they saw the car doing burnouts before the incidentDozens of people were hit by the car with witnesses saying they saw the car doing burnouts before the incident

Dozens of people were hit by the car with witnesses saying they saw the car doing burnouts before the incident

A witness told Nine News they thought the car was travelling at about 60km/h as it drove into busy crowds (pictured)A witness told Nine News they thought the car was travelling at about 60km/h as it drove into busy crowds (pictured)

A witness told Nine News they thought the car was travelling at about 60km/h as it drove into busy crowds (pictured)

The white Suzuki SUV (pictured) was forced to stop its rampage when it crashed into a bollard near Flinders Street StationThe white Suzuki SUV (pictured) was forced to stop its rampage when it crashed into a bollard near Flinders Street Station

The white Suzuki SUV (pictured) was forced to stop its rampage when it crashed into a bollard near Flinders Street Station

A car crashed into the crowds at Melbourne 's Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street (pictured) causing dramatic scenesA car crashed into the crowds at Melbourne 's Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street (pictured) causing dramatic scenes

A car crashed into the crowds at Melbourne 's Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street (pictured) causing dramatic scenes

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to the scene (pictured) at 4.41pm Thursday and several are criticalAmbulance Victoria said paramedics were called to the scene (pictured) at 4.41pm Thursday and several are critical

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to the scene (pictured) at 4.41pm Thursday and several are critical

Dramatic footage shows a number of injured pedestrians being treated by passerbys as they wait for paramedics.

Vince Harris, the manager of the Freechoice tobacconist at Flinders Street Station, was nearby in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

He was on the scene from about two minutes after the car collided and could see the cracked windscreen and Good Samaritans trying to save injured pedestrians.

'A few ladies were screaming but it was calm – there were no sirens, nothing,' Mr Harris said.

'I was here when the other one (the Bourke Street tragedy) happened …. you get desensitised.'

Vince Harris, the manager of the Freechoice tobacconist at Flinders Street Station, was near the crash aftermath (pictured)Vince Harris, the manager of the Freechoice tobacconist at Flinders Street Station, was near the crash aftermath (pictured)

Vince Harris, the manager of the Freechoice tobacconist at Flinders Street Station, was near the crash aftermath (pictured)

The heart of Melbourne's CBD is in lock down after the car ploughed down a number of shoppers and commuters (pictured)The heart of Melbourne's CBD is in lock down after the car ploughed down a number of shoppers and commuters (pictured)

The heart of Melbourne's CBD is in lock down after the car ploughed down a number of shoppers and commuters (pictured)

14 people, one in a serious condition, were taken to hospital including a pre-school aged child with serious head injuries14 people, one in a serious condition, were taken to hospital including a pre-school aged child with serious head injuries

14 people, one in a serious condition, were taken to hospital including a pre-school aged child with serious head injuries

 Police have locked down vast areas of the city taking in Flinders Street, Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street (pictured) Police have locked down vast areas of the city taking in Flinders Street, Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street (pictured)

Police have locked down vast areas of the city taking in Flinders Street, Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street (pictured)

One witness's husband told Daily Mail Australia his wife was taken to Melbourne West with other onlookers to be interviewedOne witness's husband told Daily Mail Australia his wife was taken to Melbourne West with other onlookers to be interviewed

One witness's husband told Daily Mail Australia his wife was taken to Melbourne West with other onlookers to be interviewed

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital 

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital

One witness's husband told Daily Mail Australia his wife had been taken to Melbourne West with other onlookers to be interviewed.

Police have locked down vast areas of the city taking in Flinders Street, Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street.

A child at pre-school suffered head injuries and was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in a serious condition.

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital but the extent of the injuries are unknown.

Eye-witnesses told 9 News the saw the white SUV being driven at about 60km/h before it smashed into dozens of pedestrians.

Another witness told 3AW there were about 'five to seven people laying on the ground'.

More could have been injured if not for the vehicle crashing into a bollard at the tram stop out the front of Flinders Street Station.

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital 

Three people were taken to The Alfred Hospital and three people were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital

Police said the driver of the car and a second man were arrested after what they believe was a 'deliberate' attack in the CBDPolice said the driver of the car and a second man were arrested after what they believe was a 'deliberate' attack in the CBD

Police said the driver of the car and a second man were arrested after what they believe was a 'deliberate' attack in the CBD

A child at pre-school suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Royal Children's Hospital (white SUV pictured)A child at pre-school suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Royal Children's Hospital (white SUV pictured)

A child at pre-school suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Royal Children's Hospital (white SUV pictured)

More could have been injured if the white Suzuki did not crash into a bollard after about '15 seconds' of traumaMore could have been injured if the white Suzuki did not crash into a bollard after about '15 seconds' of trauma

More could have been injured if the white Suzuki did not crash into a bollard after about '15 seconds' of trauma

Lachlan Read, 20, told The Herald Sun the whole rampage lasted about 15 seconds.

'He has gone straight through the red light at pace and it was bang, bang, bang. It was just one after the other,' Mr Read said.

'There were bodies on the ground and people running up to them – it was mayhem.'

A childcare centre and other buildings along Flinders Street were evacuated.

The carnage comes almost a year after six people were killed and 30 injured when a car ploughed through the Bourke Street Mall.

The driver, Dimitrious Gargasoulas, was charged with six counts of murder after he allegedly used a maroon Holden Commodore sedan to run down shoppers during the lunch break.

A child and two adults were amoung those who died following the attack as well as a three-month-old baby boy.

A childcare centre and other buildings along Flinders Street were evacuated shortly after the incident Thursday A childcare centre and other buildings along Flinders Street were evacuated shortly after the incident Thursday 

A childcare centre and other buildings along Flinders Street were evacuated shortly after the incident Thursday

A witness told Melbourne's 3AW radio station there were about 'five to seven people laying on the ground' (pictured)A witness told Melbourne's 3AW radio station there were about 'five to seven people laying on the ground' (pictured)

A witness told Melbourne's 3AW radio station there were about 'five to seven people laying on the ground' (pictured)

'People were flying everywhere ... people running everywhere' a witness told the 3AW radio station on Thursday (pictured)'People were flying everywhere ... people running everywhere' a witness told the 3AW radio station on Thursday (pictured)

'People were flying everywhere … people running everywhere' a witness told the 3AW radio station on Thursday (pictured)

Police said Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street have been closed off as a crime scene while investigations continuePolice said Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street have been closed off as a crime scene while investigations continue

Police said Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street have been closed off as a crime scene while investigations continue

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