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Page last updated at 14:22 GMT, Monday, 21 July 2008 15:22 UK

Ten injured at 'car cruise' event

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Approximately 2000 "cruisers" were at the event

Ten people were injured when two cars and a motorbike crashed as hundreds of people gathered at a Warwickshire industrial estate.

A woman in a Ford Fiesta fractured her pelvis and leg in the crash at the "car cruise" event, paramedics said.

Another woman in the car suffered a broken leg, at the Bermuda Industrial Estate, Nuneaton on Sunday evening.

Police said the impact of the collision threw the car towards the crowd and trapped a spectator and injured others.

'Complex incident'

A number of bystanders are thought to have lifted the car from the 24-year-old man trapped underneath. He sustained minor injuries, a police spokesman added.

Six ambulances were called to the incident, involving the Fiesta, a Rover 216 and a Honda 900cc motorcycle, in Gresham Road about 2040 BST.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "This was a very complex incident made all the more difficult by the sheer number of people at the scene."

He said there were up to 2,000 people at the event and hundreds of drivers, according to some estimates.

'Surreptitious communication'

The 21-year-old male driver and two injured women in the Fiesta were trapped inside "for a considerable period" and were released by fire and rescue officers.

The driver had facial injuries and was also complaining of neck and back pain, ambulance crews said.

One of the women, aged 20, has serious head injuries and is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The 21-year-old driver of the Rover and a male friend were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The motorcyclist, who suffered a broken foot, was found injured on a grassy bank.

Appealing for witnesses to come forward, Ch Insp Glen Belcher, said: "This is an example of how dangerous these unmanaged events involving fast cars and large amounts of people can be.

"Unfortunately events of this kind tend to be organised through surreptitious communication networks and only come to light when they are already taking place.

"We appeal to anyone who is told of events of this kind taking place to be aware that they are unmanaged and the potential for serious injury or death cannot be over emphasised."




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