Truck plows into crowd at Christmas parade in California leaving three people injured, one critically, as witnesses say ‘driver smelled like alcohol’

Three people were injured, at least one of them critically, after a truck plowed into a crowd outside a California fire station during a Christmas parade.

The Bakersfield Christmas Parade was getting ready to start around 5:45 p.m. local time when the incident occurred, officials said.

Witnesses said the driver of a white Ford F-150 was backing out of an alley near the dry cleaner at a high rate of speed, hitting people as he tried to get away.

They then crashed into other victims before crashing the car into the perimeter of the local fire station.

The first victim was hit before the car began to roll over on him, and then hit the other two men. All three were hospitalized with injuries. the police said.

Three people were injured, at least one of them critically, after a truck plowed into a crowd outside a fire station in California during a Christmas parade.

Shocked observers said the man tried to start the car and escape, but the car did not move.

Several people mistakenly thought they heard gunshots, but police said it was only the sound of the driver’s rear window breaking.

At least three people who saw the man said he smelled of alcohol, the newspaper reported. Bakersfield California.

At least one person was seriously injured and two others suffered less serious injuries.

The driver of the Ford, described by witnesses as an older man, was eventually arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said. He did not receive any injuries.

In addition to the injuries, the incident left debris and beach chairs unattended.

Misty Cole, owner of a food truck selling pastrami, said the Ford hit her car first.

“This is how I support my family, and some drunk idiot just wrecked my truck,” Cole said.

The Bakersfield Christmas Parade was getting ready to start around 5:45 p.m. local time when the incident occurred, officials said.

Witnesses say the driver of a white Ford F-150 was speeding out of an alley near the dry cleaner, hitting people as he tried to get away.

They then crashed into other victims before crashing the car into the perimeter of the local fire station.

The first victim was hit before the car began to roll over him, and then hit the other two men.

The Christmas parade had to be rerouted but eventually went ahead, albeit with fewer participants.

Kathy Switter noted that before the crash, one of the victims had just bought hot cocoa for the other.

“He never slowed down,” Switter said of the driver.

The Christmas parade had to be rerouted but eventually went ahead, albeit with fewer participants.

Cole, a food truck owner, found it a little “ridiculous” that the parade was still going on.

“These poor kids just watched people get beaten. It’s a complete mess here,” Cole said. “You don’t know if these people are dead.”