Driver, 89, kills two women in a hospital car park
TWO women died yesterday after an 89- year- old driver apparently lost control of his car while reversing in a hospital car park.
The pair – also believed to be in their 80s – were outside Withington Community Hospital in Manchester when the Ford Focus pinned them to a wall.
Both were taken to hospital by ambulance where they were pronounced dead .
The driver of the car was last night being held in custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving.
The tragedy unfolded in front of shocked patients arriving for their appointments in an ambulance-only area of the hospital car park shortly after 2pm. Witnesses said the Focus had been attempting to turn round when it suddenly lurched backwards.
‘We heard the driver was trying to reverse the car, but for whatever reason he completely lost control and the vehicle hit the women,’ one said.
‘ There were lots of people screaming and others trying to revive both ladies. We thought they had been waiting to see someone inside the hospital. It was a terrible scene.’
Another witness said the car had ‘smashed barriers and lamp posts’, adding: ‘Two people were on the ground receiving CPR.’
Another who had just arrived to see a doctor described seeing ‘a commotion’ and hearing a scream. ‘I went in the hospital for my
‘There were lots of people screaming’
appointment and the next thing all hell broke loose,’ he said. ‘I was shocked when I came outside and saw all the police.’
A fourth told how the women had been ‘crushed against the wall’ by the car. ‘ Someone screamed and I saw people doing chest compressions on someone on the floor,’ he said. ‘It was awful.’ Following examination of the scene by Manchester police, the Ford Focus – which appeared to have burst tyres – was loaded onto a flatbed truck and taken away.
Sergeant Lee Westhead, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: ‘We are in the very early stages of the investigation and I would urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the vehicle beforehand, to contact my team as soon as possible.’
Silas Nicholls, chief executive at University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We are extremely saddened by today’s events and our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this tragic news.’