Shocking images show how a car repeatedly crashed against other vehicles as a pedestrian who tried to intervene was injured.
Onlookers begged the driver to stop as the vehicle smashed into cars and a horse box in Fermoy, Co Cork, on Saturday afternoon.
One bystander tried to intervene, opening the door of the black Ford to stop the driver, but the car reversed and injured the man who was at the door of the car.
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Gardai were on the scene within minutes and chased the car which sped away before it was stopped and a man aged in his 20s was arrested.
Witnesses have given statements to gardai, who have also examined videos which emerged of the incident.
Recalling the horror, one witness said: “Myself, my partner and our two year old were in the car right next to the horse box facing towards him as the car crashed into it. It was terrifying.”
Fianna Fail Councillor Noel McCarthy believes the incident could have been “much worse”.
He told the Irish Mirror: “There were a lot of people that could have been hurt. A couple of people were hurt but we were very lucky really.
“There was damage done to cars and things but other than that, there was no loss of life thank god.” He hailed those who warned people on the streets of what was happening.
McCarthy added: “Fair play to the bystanders. I think they saved people’s lives. They were telling people to not go onto the road and were warning them and that stopped people from being badly injured or worse.
“And I praise the gardai for the swift action after that. It was a frightening scene in Fermoy on Saturday.”
His Fianna Fail colleague Cllr Frank O’Flynn agreed after both were in attendance at a 100th year celebration of gardai in Fermoy yesterday.
Mr O’Flynn added: “I’m grateful to the gardai for their response. They actually are celebrating their 100th anniversary here in Fermoy today.
“It was very lucky because the incident could have been far worse. And it was very lucky that no one was actually seriously hurt.”
A Garda spokesman said: “A car drove down Mac Curtain Street and damaged a number of parked vehicles and struck a pedestrian who received non-life threatening injuries.
“A man, aged in his 20s, was arrested at the scene and taken to Fermoy Garda station where he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.”
Gardai last night said that the man who was arrested has since been charged over the incident.
He is due before Mallow District Court today.
A spokesman said: “Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and any road users with video footage are asked to make this available to them.”
Last week there was widespread condemnation after two cars rammed a Garda vehicle in Dublin.
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