Chipping Sodbury Christmas market car crash leaves seven injured

Two young children, including a baby, were taken to hospital after a car plowed into a group of pedestrians at a Christmas market.

South Western Ambulance Service received a call at 11:58 GMT on Sunday about the incident on High Street in Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol. Five adults were also injured.

Avon and Somerset Police said a man – believed to be in his 80s – collided with pedestrians at slow speeds as he maneuvered out of a parking space.

A spokesman said that despite the extensive emergency response, no injuries were currently reported to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Five ambulances, a rescue plane and several other emergency services were sent to the market town, which is about 18 miles (29 kilometers) northeast of Bristol.

Seven pedestrians, including five adults and two children, were examined at the scene by paramedics.

In a statement posted on Facebook, organizers confirmed that the Christmas Sunday event was still going ahead despite the injuries.

They said: “Police have advised us not to cancel today’s event, so the rest of the High Street from Hobbs House Bakery down towards Broad Street and Horse Street is still open.”

“We would ask anyone present today to refrain from photographing the incident or speculating on social media as we deploy emergency services to help those in need.”

The event started at 11:00 GMT and is expected to end at 17:30 GMT.

Esra Ward, who runs a pizza stand at the market, witnessed the whole thing.

“We were just talking to the customers outside our van,” she said.

“The car was parked and suddenly we saw him speeding up as he came out of the parking space and hit a few people.

“There was a mother standing in front of the car with a baby in a stroller. Apparently he met a few people in the back, a family. The ambulance, police and fire department were here in about five minutes.”