Pedestrian fighting for life and woman arrested after major crash on busy road

07 October 2023 , 15:32

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The crash happened in Liverpool (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A pedestrian is fighting for life after a horror crash involving a taxi on a busy road in a city centre.

The man in his 40s was dashed to hospital in the early hours of this morning after a white Audi TT "travelling at a speed" collided with a private hire car in Liverpool. It in turn collided with the pedestrian, Merseyside Police said today.

A 53-year-old woman from Southport, Merseyside, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and has been taken into custody for questioning. Efforts, though, are ongoing to locate the driver, who made off on foot. The taxi driver, a man in his 50s, required treatment for neck injuries, reports Liverpool Echo.

Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, Lead Investigating Officer for the MATRIX Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Merseyside Police said this morning: âAn investigation has been launched following this collision, which has left a 44-year-old man with serious injuries.

"While an arrest has been made in connection with the incident, the investigation is still very much in its early stages and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident to please get in touch.

"I would ask that if you were in the area at the time or have premises nearby, to please review your CCTV or dashcam in case the incident was captured, including any footage of the Audi TT shortly before the incident. Every piece of information, no matter how small, could help us with our ongoing enquiries."

The smash happened on The Strand, a busy road by Liverpool Waterfront, and the street remains closed in both directions between James Street and Chapel Street while officers investigate today. Emergency services continue to deal with the incident. These road closures may affect other areas of the city centre and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact our Matrix Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0151 777 5747, email [email protected], or DM @MerPolCC on Twitter quoting reference 23000974882. The collision has been referred by Merseyside Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as the incident followed recent police contact.

16:32Bradley Jolly

Wedding guests try to save injured man

One man said he had just left a wedding party at popular venue Oh Me Oh My, which faces on to the Strand, and was trying to get a taxi home when he witnessed the crash. He told Liverpool Echo: "We were coming out of a wedding party in front of Oh Me Oh My. It happened two metres away - it could have been anyone from our group who got hit really.

"There were lots of witnesses because people were waiting for taxis. I was facing the venue and next thing we hear a big screeching sound. I turned around and looked towards the Crowne Plaza (hotel) and there was a white car."

The man said the white car "ploughed into the back of a private hire taxi. That taxi then mounted the pavement, took out two trees and ended up elsewhere."

11:44Bradley Jolly

Residents in flats opposite cordon can't leave their homes

People living in a block of flats inside the cordon have been told they can't leave their homes due to the police scene on The Strand.

In it, the Audi and the private hire taxi can be seen inside the cordon with extensive damage. Car parts are scattered across the road and yellow evidence markers have been placed beside them.

ROAD CLOSURE | The Strand in Liverpool city centre is closed in both directions between James St and Chapel St following a collision in the early hours of today (Saturday 7 October) and motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.

More details here: https://t.co/zyLP26dSPc pic.twitter.com/g01ZhFXTCA
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) October 7, 2023

11:30Bradley Jolly

Merseyside Constabulary refers itself to the police watchdog

The collision has been referred by Merseyside Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as the incident followed recent police contact.

Officers were alerted to the Audi as it was "travelling at speed" and soon after this, it collided with the taxi.

The private hire driver, a man in his 50s, also required treatment for neck injuries.

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11:27Bradley Jolly

Photographs taken at The Strand show extent of the damage

Further images taken at the scene, on The Strand, in Liverpool city centre show the full extent of the damage caused.

Liverpool Echo, our sister title, is at the scene and its photographer has shared the photographs in the last few moments. They also capture significant police activity on the road, which is thought to remain shut for hours.