Colchester: CCTV shows car mounting pavement before fatal pub crash
Written by News on 04/11/2019
CCTV footage has emerged of a car careering across a pavement before it crashed into a pub, killing a man and injuring three others in Colchester.
A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the white Nissan Qashqai hit The Spinnaker pub in Hythe Quay in the early hours of Sunday, Essex Police said.
Footage exclusively obtained by Sky News shows the car mounting the wide pavement then driving at speed towards the pub.
Minutes later, the CCTV shows passers-by stopping and looking in shock at the scene before a police car arrives, followed by another one a few minutes later.
Police said a 36-year-old man died and three others were injured in the crash shortly after 12.50am.
They said a 34-year-old man was taken to hospital with life-changing injuries and two others, a 34-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A man who said he is best friends with the most seriously injured man, said he was “absolutely devastated”.
Sean said his friend was taken by helicopter to hospital with two broken legs, two broken hips and possibly a broken sternum.
He told Sky News: “The guy is one of my besties. There was a group of us, we all meet up three times a year. He’s one of the nicest, politest guys you could ever meet.
“I’m absolutely devastated something like this could happen to him.
“I’m waiting for updates, I feel helpless.
“He loved his football, loves going out with the boys. We used to come down here, have a drink.”
Another man, Alan, who lives nearby, said he heard a big bang in the night but thought it was a container crashing off a lorry as there is a port near the pub.
“I was totally shocked,” he told Sky News.
“It’s a beautiful local pub, loads of wonderful people in a lovely quiet area.
“Couple of the young lads who were hit were friends of ours. I spoke to one of their father’s and he’s in hospital but seems fine.”
Hythe Quay was closed for about seven hours after the incident and reopened at 9am.
The arrested man has also been held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, death by dangerous driving and assault.
Detectives are asking for any witnesses, people who saw a white Nissan Qashqai in the area, or people with mobile or dashcam footage to contact them.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 63 of 3 Sunday November, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
(c) Sky News 2019: Colchester: CCTV shows car mounting pavement before fatal pub crash
