An unattended car plowed into a crowd at a Pittsburgh festival Sunday after a clueless driver forgot to put it in park, leaving six people injured, including three who were in critical condition, police said.
The frightening incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. when the red Kia Soul slowly drifted into the East Liberty parking lot, where the East Liberty Black Arts Soul Steppin’, Boots-on-the-Ground Wellness Festival, Harambee Style and Parade was being held, according to a police report.
Five women and one man were injured by the “slow-moving” car after the driver mistakenly thought he had put it in park before exiting.
“I put the camera up to take a photo,” Ricco J.L. Martello, the event’s photographer, told WTAE.
“Next thing I know, I see the car coming up in lanes. I dropped the camera, and they were … it was already too late. They were already getting hit.”
Martello captured photos of the idle car inside a small tent, with tables overturned and items strewn across the ground after it suddenly began rolling.
“I see him running, you know, from the sidewalk to try to stop the car,” the shutterbug said of the driver, who remained at the scary scene and cooperated with police.
“I mean, he felt really bad.”
Five victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment, including two in stable condition and three in serious but stable condition, police said. The remaining victim was treated at the scene.
Festival organizers Anita and Eddie Drummond said their family members were among those injured, but carried on with their celebration.
“It was a freak accident,” Eddie told the outlet.
“Probably the gears didn’t shift or something. Then it rolled into everyone. But unfortunately, you know, people got injured.”
Authorities said the incident was “purely accidental” and indicated that charges are unlikely.
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