Man arrested after car ‘swerves’ into crowd of pedestrians celebrating New Year

Police have arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of dangerous driving after a car swerved into a crowd of people celebrating New Year in London.

Officers were called to the scene at Primrose Hill in central London at about 00.13am today, following reports a car had crashed into a pedestrian during a fireworks display.

A suspect was arrested and also charged with causing grievous bodily harm and possession of controlled drugs.

It comes as police urged people to stay away from the area on New Year’s Eve after 16-year-old Harry Pitman was stabbed in the neck and died while watching fireworks at the viewpoint on December 21 a year ago.

After hitting a pedestrian, police said the driver attempted to speed off and hit another person on Primrose Hill Road.

Video footage of the scene shows crowds of people running away and screaming as the car plows into a group of revellers.

The Metropolitan Police has since confirmed a 21-year-old man was hit by a vehicle. He sustained minor injuries and did not require medical treatment. 

A second pedestrian who was struck, a 59-year-old man, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing. 

The incident is not being treated as terror-related, Scotland Yard added.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘At 00:13hrs on Wednesday, 1 January a vehicle was involved in a collision with a pedestrian at the junction of Regent’s Park Road and Primrose Hill Road.

‘The driver failed to stop at the scene, making off along Primrose Hill Road where a second pedestrian was struck.

‘Officers who were in the area as part of the New Year’s Eve policing operation located the vehicle a short distance away at the junction of Primrose Hill Road and King Henry’s Road.’

Police added: ‘A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing grievous bodily harm and possession of controlled drugs.

‘The pedestrian who was initially struck, a 21-year-old man, sustained minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.

‘The second pedestrian who was struck, a 59-year-old man, was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing.

‘An investigation is underway. This is not being treated as a terrorist incident.’

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