Girl, 14, badly injured as car smashes into five youngsters
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl was in a serious condition in hospital last night after a car ploughed into her and four friends as they stood in the street.
A police inquiry was launched after a silver Vauxhall Astra mounted the pavement outside a row of shops in what officers said was a targeted attack.
Eyewitnesses described how some of the youngsters – between the ages of 12 and 14 – ran into a nearby newsagent’s shop for cover, yelling ‘they’re trying to kill us’ before the vehicle sped away.
Police yesterday confirmed that the incident – at around 3.30pm on Saturday in Stravanan Road, in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow – is being treated as attempted murder.
Four of the youngsters – two girls aged 12 and 14 and two boys aged 12 and 13 – were treated by paramedics at a local hospital for minor injuries and have since been released.
But a 14-year-old girl who was taken to Hairmyres Hospital, in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, remains in a serious but stable condition.
There were unconfirmed reports that the girl had broken her neck.
Police said full details of the incident were still not known but confirmed officers were ‘aware’ of reports that the car, driven by a man, reversed over the girl after the initial impact.
Detective Inspector Peter Sharp said: ‘This vehicle was deliberately driven at this group of children and, as such, we are treating this incident as attempted murder.
‘Extensive police inquiries are continuing to trace the man driving the car, his male passenger and also the vehicle involved.
‘Officers are following a number of lines of inquiry.
‘At this time I would appeal to any witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information that may assist this investigation, including anyone who may have details of the silver Vauxhall Astra involved, to contact police as a matter of urgency.
‘There will be additional police patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community and I would encourage anyone with information or concerns to approach the officers, who will be happy to assist.’
Following the attack, a woman claiming to be the mother of one of the victims expressed her anger on social media, branding the incident a ‘disgrace’.
Detectives were at the scene yesterday to take statements and examine CCTV footage from the Lifestyle Express store that was used as a refuge by the youngsters.
Chalk marks could also be seen on the road surface in the parking bays serving the row of shops.
Describing the incident, in which a silver Volkswagen was also damaged, local shopkeeper Rana Hammad said: ‘There was a big bang outside. There was a girl lying on the roadside and she was badly injured. It was very horrific, everyone was crying.’ A resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘We heard a loud bang, that was it.
‘It’s not unusual to hear loud noises coming from the shops because delivery drivers are constantly slamming their doors.’
The motive for the attack has not yet been established. But rumours online have suggested it was connected to a mass brawl last July which resulted in the shooting death of 22-year-old Jamie Lee.
A 17-year-old man was arrested in connection with the shooting, which happened in a playpark a mile away from Saturday’s incident. When asked if the incidents were linked, a police spokesman said: ‘We are not ruling anything out at this point.’
Meanwhile, a 68-year-old woman has died in a hit-and-run crash involving three cars.
Police are searching for the male driver of a grey Peugeot 307 who fled the scene of the accident on the A76 on Saturday.
The vehicle was travelling north between New Cumnock and Cumnock, Ayrshire, at about 11.05pm when it collided with two other cars.
The woman – a passenger in a south-bound Vauxhall Antara – died at the scene of the accident.
The 35-year-old female driver of the Vauxhall and a 39-year-old male passenger received minor injuries.
Three people in a black Ford Focus that had been travelling north were also treated for minor injuries. Several motorists stopped to help the injured. Police said a 27-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident but was later released without charge.
Officers are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them.
‘They’re trying to kill us’
‘Deliberately driven at group’