Police have arrested the driver of a truck who allegedly ploughed into five pedestrians while turning a corner in Melbourne on Thursday night, the ABC reports.
The truck allegedly ran into five 20-year-olds who were standing on the footpath on the corner of City Rd and Power St in Southbank. All five of them were injured and taken to hospital, with two suffering critical injuries.
“It appears that while performing the left-hand turn the truck cut the intersection corner and mounted the footpath, taking out the traffic light which fell to the ground,” Victoria Police said, in a statement.
Confronting scenes in the aftermath of a truck having collided with a traffic light and group of pedestrians on Power Street & City Road, Southbank. Five injured, two critically. Police searching for the truck/driver who left the scene @9NewsMelb @9NewsAUS @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/ZuyUAAQ1AQ
— Tom Kelly (@tpwkelly) May 6, 2021
Police alleged the 64-year-old truck driver didn’t stop at the scene. It was only after another driver alerted them that they were able to find him later in the evening in Truganina, 23km west of the Melbourne CBD.
Some local residents are also blaming the layout of the area for the crash.
“I could hear screaming when I opened the windows,” one person told News.com.au.
“It’s a terribly dangerous corner, it is no surprise to any locals that this has happened.”
Horrific scenes in Southbank last night when a B-Double truck cut the corner, mounted the curb, ploughing into five pedestrians. He fled the scene but was later arrested. 2 critical, 3 serious but stable. Live from scene @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/B5T9LQKIBa
— Christine Ahern (@ChristineAhern) May 6, 2021
The president of Southbank Resident Association, Tony Penna, even told News.com.au that he had met with Melbourne deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece recently to discuss this exact intersection.
“I was wanting to highlight the impact of trucks on the City Rd and Power St corner where the trucks often ride over the footpath encroaching on pedestrian space as there is very little room between the corner of Southbank Grand and the road edge,” he said.
In addition to toppling over a traffic light, the incident also left debris littered across the whole intersection, which a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said caused “significant traffic issues”.
The truck driver has not been charged but remains in custody as of Friday morning.