This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/dec/21/pedestrians-injured-in-vehicle-collision-on-melbournes-flinders-street-live

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Melbourne Flinders Street incident: at least 13 pedestrians injured in vehicle crash – live Melbourne Flinders Street incident: second man arrested and at least 13 pedestrians injured – live
(35 minutes later)
Another eyewitness, John, has just spoken to the ABC about the “horrific scene” outside Flinders street station. He said bodies were thrown into the air as the car ploughed into them.
He was asked whether he was OK:
I’ve never seen anything like this before and I really haven’t stopped shaking. So it’s difficulty for me to say whether I’m OK.
We’re expecting to hear from the police shortly. But before we do, just a quick update on what we know so far:
A car, thought to be a white Suzuki SUV, crashed into pedestrians in one of the busiest areas of Melbourne’s CBD, outside Flinders street station, after 4.30pm.
13 people have been transported to hospital. One was a pre-school aged child with a serious head injury. The injured have been taken to hospitals across the city.
Two people have been arrested. One was the driver. Police have saturated the area and blocked off key parts of the CBD.
Witnesses have described a horrifying scene. Bodies were flying up into the air. The car is said to have made no attempt to stop. Bystanders rushed to help the injured.
Police are urging people to stay away from the scene.
Shocking scenes in Melbourne this afternoon. Credit to first responders who are doing us proud once again. Thinking of everyone caught up in this atrocity.
Police have just released another statement. They say a second man has been arrested. Here’s their statement in full:
Police have saturated the CBD area following an incident where a car has collided with a number of pedestrians on Flinders Street.
The incident occurred when the vehicle struck a number of pedestrians in front of Flinders Street Station just after 4.30pm.
The driver of the vehicle and a second man have been arrested and are in police custody.
A number of people were treated at the scene for a range of injuries and have been transported to hospital.
A crime scene has been established and all vehicular and pedestrian traffic are advised to avoid the area.
If members of the public have video footage or images, which may assist police with their investigation, they are encouraged to upload them here: http://australiauploadserviceweb.cloudapp.net
Witnesses are requested to attend at the Melbourne West Police Station, 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne or to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Here’s the aerial shot of a white SUV, which appears to have crashed into a tram stop on Flinders street.
Chopper shot of the damaged vehicle outside Flinders Street @9NewsMelb #breaking pic.twitter.com/yV95Lx036T
The incident has left large numbers of people stranded. Police have closed off many areas around Flinders and Elizabeth streets. Police are urging people to stay away from the area.
People stuck on the balcony over Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street, closed off for multiple ambulances @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/JTsHDt2X6y
Another witness, Vince, has spoken to AAP. He was working in a shop at Flinders Street Station and rushed to the scene before emergency services arrived.Another witness, Vince, has spoken to AAP. He was working in a shop at Flinders Street Station and rushed to the scene before emergency services arrived.
There was no screaming, just people lying there.There was no screaming, just people lying there.
By-standers also rushed to help the injured pedestrians, he said.By-standers also rushed to help the injured pedestrians, he said.
They were just holding them and comforting them.They were just holding them and comforting them.
Witnesses are continuing to speak about the distressing scenes in Melbourne this afternoon.Witnesses are continuing to speak about the distressing scenes in Melbourne this afternoon.
We’re yet to hear from police.We’re yet to hear from police.
One witness, John, said:One witness, John, said:
It was such a horrific scene, bodies being flown into the air.It was such a horrific scene, bodies being flown into the air.
Another witness, David, told ABC radio:Another witness, David, told ABC radio:
I heard the engine rev and I heard the first thump, and I turned around ... I just saw it [the vehicle] ploughing through pedestrians as everyone was crossing the road, and then crashing into the tram stop.I heard the engine rev and I heard the first thump, and I turned around ... I just saw it [the vehicle] ploughing through pedestrians as everyone was crossing the road, and then crashing into the tram stop.
Police are continuing to urge Melburnians to avoid the area. The Swanston Street bridge is now closed to traffic. Train commuters have been urged to avoid Flinders Street Station.
Witnesses who have been affected by the incident can also access support services at West Melbourne police station.
Victoria Police have asked anybody with vision of the incident or its aftermath to upload that footage to a cloud.
If members of the public have video or images which might assist police with their investigation into the Flinders Street incident they are encouraged to upload them here → https://t.co/oFfWkid509 pic.twitter.com/fzmX79HOv5
Ambulance Victoria has confirmed 13 people have now been taken to city hospitals. A further two are still being treated at the scene.
Paramedics have now transported 13 people to city hospitals. Two more people are being assessed by paramedics at the scene.
The white SUV being driven by the man remains on the scene. The car has crashed into the tram stop on Flinders Street, and the front is extensively damaged.The incident has caused widespread traffic congestion.
Flinders Street is closed between Swanston and Queen Streets in both directions. Elizabeth St is closed between Flinders and Bourke Street. St Kilda Road is closed at the Yarra River.
VicRoads Chris Miller from VicRoads said Melburnians are being asked to defer travel around the CBD, “if that is not possible, stay as far north as possible”.
Images are starting to trickle in from Flinders street. Keep in mind, this is one of the busiest areas in the city, at the busiest time of the year.
Ambulance Victoria has just provided another update. Paramedics have now transported 13 people to hospitals across the city. Another two people are being assessed at the scene.
Paramedics have now transported 13 people to city hospitals. Two more people are being assessed by paramedics at the scene.
We mentioned earlier that one of those victims was a pre-school aged child with a serious head injury.
Witnesses have spoken about witnessing the horror of the crash. One witness, named Sue, told Melbourne radio station 3AW:
As it [the car] approached this intersection ... it just mowed everybody down, people were flying everywhere.
Sue said she worked at Walker’s Doughnuts on Elizabeth Street.
Aerial footage of the scene shows a white Suzuki SUV crashed into a tram stop.
Another witness, Jim, has just told the ABC the car made no effort to stop or slow down.
The only thing that slowed him down was him hitting pedestrians.
The scene at Flinders street is chaotic. A large number of emergency services are on site, assisting the injured and transporting some to hospital. Police are continuing to block off access to the area.
DEVELOPING: Paramedics are continuing to treat 12 people at the scene of the incident at Flinders and Elizabeth St. 3 people taken to the Alfred, 3 people taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. A pre-school aged child with a head injury has been taken to Royal Childrens Hospital. pic.twitter.com/xs2bwG6cxC
#Melbourne Flinders St chaos. Innocent people ploughed down by SUV at corner Elizabeth and Flinders. pic.twitter.com/xKgv9to76X
We’re expecting police to address the media shortly.
The ABC is now reporting that seven people have been taken to hospital, citing Ambulance Victoria.
Ambulance Victoria say some of the injuries are serious. Twelve people in total were thought to have been injured.
Paramedics are treating and transporting to hospital 12 people injured, some seriously, in an incident in the city.
Police are currently attending an incident on Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Swanston streets where a vehicle has collided with a number of pedestrians. Police have arrested the driver of the car. Extent of injuries are not known at this stage. (1/2)
Police are asking any witnesses to go to the Melbourne West Police Station at 313 Spencer Street, Melbourne and all vehicular and pedestrian traffic to avoid the area. (2/2)
At least 12 people have been injured after a SUV crashed into pedestrians in Melbourne’s CBD, outside Flinders Street Station.
Stick with us, and we’ll keep you updated as new information comes to hand.
Information is still sparse, but this is what we know at the moment:
a white SUV hit at least 12 pedestrians just before 5pm, near Flinders and Elizabeth streets in Melbourne’s centre. It occurred near one of the main entrances into Flinders Street station.
one of those injured was a preschool-age child. The child has been taken to the Royal Children’s hospital with a head injury and is in a serious condition.
at least two people have been taken to hospital. There is no information about the second person’s condition.
the driver has been arrested
multiple reports say the vehicle made no attempt to stop.
police have blocked access to Flinders Street from Queens Street to Swanston Street.