A Liverpool fan run down during the club’s victory parade has recalled how he “locked eyes” with the driver and “pleaded for him to stop” moments before being hit.
Jack Trotter, 22, had travelled from Northern Ireland with his girlfriend, Abbie Gallagher, 22, to celebrate on Water Street when he was struck by a Ford Galaxy.
“Abbie was a few feet ahead of me, and I was just taking videos singing with Liverpool fans I’d never even met before,” Mr Trotter said. “Then I just heard her screaming my name, I put my phone down and by then I was face to face with the car.
“He had slowed down. And then I put my hands up and pleaded for him to stop, and he wasn’t stopping. Then he clipped me.”
Other fans helped Mr Trotter into a nearby pub until paramedics arrived. He was among more than 50 people injured, including children. Eleven remained in hospital on Tuesday in a stable condition.
A 53-year-old man from West Derby was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving under the influence of drugs. He remains in custody.
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Watch: Merseyside Police praised for quickly dismissing speculation over Liverpool crash
Alex Croft28 May 2025 02:00
Liverpool FC captain says he is ‘praying for speedy recovery’ of injured
Liverpool FC captain Virgil van Dijk said he is “praying for a speedy recovery” for all those injured in the crash following the club’s title parade.
The Dutch defender posted on Instagram: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Praying for a speedy recovery for everyone who suffered injuries.
“We are all with you.”
Alex Croft28 May 2025 01:00
‘I will never forget seeing a woman stuck under the car’
Natasha Rinaldi, 31, was watching the parade from her friend’s flat on Water Street, Liverpool, when she heard “desperate screams” from below.
“We rushed over to the window and saw injured people all over the floor,” she told The Independent.
“We heard so many screams. I will never forget seeing a woman stuck under the car. It was so distressing. She was the last person to be rescued.”
Ms Rinaldi, a Liverpool FC fan for 12 years, said the collision, which injured 47 people including four children, had “destroyed” what was supposed to be a “very happy day”.
She said: “It is unbelievable. I had been dreaming of this day for so long. I have followed the club for years and go to the games all the time.
“Everyone was so happy. But after it, everyone was broken. It destroyed what was supposed to be a very happy day.”
Alex Croft28 May 2025 00:01
Liverpool FC’s boss thanks club’s supporters who ‘helped each other’
Liverpool FC chief executive Billy Hogan thanked the club’s supporters who “helped each other” after a car drove through fans celebrating in the city on Monday.
He said: “On behalf of all of us here at Liverpool Football Club, I would like to extend our heartfelt thoughts to all those who’ve been affected by this appalling incident on Water Street yesterday evening.
“This weekend was one of celebration, emotion and joy spread across the city in our entire fanbase, and it ended in unimaginable scenes of distress with this appalling incident.
“I’d like to pay tribute to our emergency services and partner agencies – Merseyside Police, North West and St John Ambulance Services, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue – who dealt with the incident, and now our hospital staff across the city who are dealing with those who are injured, including tragically four children.
“I would also like to thank our supporters who witnessed this event and helped each other where they could.
“We continue to work with the emergency services and the local authorities to support their ongoing investigation and once again we would ask if anyone ha
Alex Croft27 May 2025 23:00
Watch: Princess Anne thanks emergency responders following Liverpool car crash
Alex Croft27 May 2025 22:30
‘I pleaded for the driver to stop’, recalls witness
A Liverpool fan run down at the club’s victory parade has described how he “locked eyes” with the driver and “pleaded for him to stop” moments before the car ploughed into him.
Jack Trotter, 22, was enjoying celebrating his team’s success when he found himself “face to face” with the Ford Galaxy on Water Street in the city centre on Monday.
He told the PA news agency of the moment before he was struck by the car: “He had slowed down. And then I put my hands up and pleaded for him to stop, and he wasn’t stopping.
“Then he clipped me.” Mr Trotter said the incident was “very quick”.
“I did lock eyes with him,” he continued. “People were hitting his car, shouting at him. Everything was very dark. Everything was very blurry. He had ran through me by the time I could get a good look at him.
“When the car had hit me, the adrenaline kicked in, and I didn’t really, obviously feel anything. And then once I found my partner, the adrenaline wore off, and then I just collapsed on the wall and said ‘Abbie, that’s me, I’m gone”.
Alex Croft27 May 2025 22:00
Flowers pictured at scene of horror crash
Alex Croft27 May 2025 21:29
Driver looked ’emotional and agitated’, says witness
A witness has recalled seeing the driver of the vehicle which plowed through the crowd of Liverpool fans looking “emotional and agitated” before the incident.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Harry Rashid said he and his wife saw the driver of the vehicle clearly.
“He looked emotional, agitated, his hands were moving about,” Mr Rashid said. “He was trying to close the door of the car because people were trying to pull the door open.
“When he closed the door people were banging on the vehicle, the windscreens, the side windows, the back window.
“Within the next five seconds he managed to put his car into gear again and drive straight through the people in front of him.”
Alex Croft27 May 2025 21:00
Watch: Emotional Liverpool parade crash witness recalls moment she knew something was wrong
Alex Croft27 May 2025 20:34
On the ground | Inside the aftermath of one of Liverpool’s darkest days
Treading slowly out of their Airbnb on to the heavily-policed street, the O’Brien family turned to inspect the aftermath of the appalling events the evening before.
Behind the tangled cordon, empty beer bottles and takeaway boxes were strewn across the deserted road. In the distance, a forensic officer checked the road surface for evidence.
For the sombre-looking family-of-four, it was like waking up from a violent nightmare, hoping it was just a dream. But it wasn’t.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the group were among thousands of joyous Liverpool fans packed into the street for their team’s Premier League-winning parade.
Our reporter Alex Ross writes from Liverpool:
Alex Croft27 May 2025 20:12
