Sports car drivers ‘went rogue’ before crash that injured 17

and stop that, we urge people not to go out on the roads, not to risk injury or anything. But unfortunately, in this age of social media and Snapchat, people want to get footage and post things to their friends, which seems to drive some people to the main road.”

Musician Ciaran O’Connorwas driving past on the other side of Monkswood Way when he witnessed the crash.

He told the Standard: “It was a scene of chaos, children screaming, parents screaming, people lying motionless on the road.”

He added: “The fast car on the righthand side has gone straight into those kids. There was about 200 kids here all together. It was just a scene of panic … I felt helpless, I’m not first aid trained.”

Mr O’Connor said that many of the attendees of the event were as young as 15. He said the driver of the clipped car, who looked about 18, emerged from his vehicle “in a pretty bad state of shock”.

Police are investigating the incident. Dozens of officers and paramedics had rushed to the scene. The ambulance service said it had taken 12 people to three hospitals, Lister Hospital in Stevenage, Watford General Hospital and The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow. An air ambulance also attended the scene of the crash.