A routine evening run in a quiet English village turned into a nightmare when a vehicle suddenly plowed into a group of joggers, leaving multiple people injured and sparking a police investigation.
Authorities say the crash happened around 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, along Burwardsley Road in the village of Tattenhall, Cheshire. According to police, a Jeep Wrangler veered off the road, mounted the verge, and slammed into a group of runners who were exercising together.
Several people were hurt in the collision, with a number of them taken to the hospital. Police confirmed that at least two of the victims suffered serious injuries.
The runners are believed to be members of a local group known as Tattenhall Runners. Reports indicate the group was wearing high-visibility clothing and head torches at the time of the incident. Witnesses said the Jeep appeared to suddenly swerve into the group while navigating a bend in the road.
The vehicle reportedly struck eight people, leaving six injured. Three runners are said to have sustained serious head and leg injuries.
The driver of the Jeep, a 76-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Police have not released his name, and the victims have not yet been publicly identified.
Cheshire Police emphasized that the incident is being treated as a road traffic collision and urged anyone who witnessed the crash or was driving in the area at the time to come forward.
“It was absolute carnage,” one witness told local media. “There were bodies all over the road, and some were badly hurt. The runners were clearly visible — there’s no way the driver wouldn’t have seen them.”