Fourteen seriously injured as car ploughs into crowd

A single shoe remained in the road this morning

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Fourteen people were seriously injured when a motorist deliberately mounted the pavement in Rochdale in the early hours of this morning (Sunday 17 October 2010).

Twenty five people were taken to hospitals across the region; fourteen have been admitted to the Fairfield Hospital in Bury, The Royal Oldham Hospital and the North Manchester General Hospital and the rest have been discharged. 

None of the injuries are believed to be life threatening.

The incident happened at around 2.00am. A Saab with two men inside drove at door staff outside the Dali Bar on Packer Street.

The car then drove along the pavement for about 100-200 yards, injuring a number of other people.

It is thought the men in the car had earlier been refused entry into the bar.

A stolen Saab car, believed to have been involved in the incident, was found on Albert Royds Street at about 4.20am.

An eye witness described the incident as “horrible” saying   “It was like a ram raid.”

Detective Inspector Darren Meeks, said: "To deliberately drive a car along a crowded pavement is incomprehensibly dangerous and reckless.

"Fourteen people were injured as a result of this driver's actions, some of them seriously and we are doing all we can to identify who is responsible.

"I want to reassure members of the public that we are following some excellent lines of inquiry and would urge the two men in the car to hand themselves in before we come knocking at your door."

Police officers in Rochdale were still at the scene at 9.30 this morning, Packer Street is closed and blue police tape has been put up outside the clubs. A shoe, possibly from a victim, remains in the road.

Chief Superintendent Jon Rush, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "We know there was some kind of altercation in Dali Bar whereby two men were asked to leave due to their behaviour.

"As a result of that these two men we believe got into a vehicle parked nearby and literally drove the vehicle at the door staff.

"There were dozens of people here coming out of the bar in various locations and literally these people were knocked down like skittles, unfortunately."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 872 5050, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.