A man has been charged following an incident in Derby city centre where his car struck several pedestrians. The collision occurred on Saturday evening, around 9:30 PM, outside a pub located on Friar Gate.
Details of the Incident
A total of seven individuals, aged between 36 and 52, were involved in the incident. They were taken to local hospitals, with some suffering serious injuries. Fortunately, four victims have been discharged, and their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Charges Filed Against Sandhu Ponnachan
Sandhu Ponnachan, a 36-year-old resident of Alvaston in Derby, faces multiple charges. These include:
- Six counts of grievous bodily harm with intent
- One count of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent
- One count of dangerous driving
- One count of possession of a bladed article
Ponnachan, originally from India, was apprehended shortly after the incident. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in court at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Investigation Updates and Community Reaction
Initially, counter-terrorism officers were involved in the investigation. However, Derbyshire Police clarified that the incident is not being treated as terrorism. Chief Superintendent Emma Aldred expressed hopes that the charges would provide some reassurance to the community.
Aldred encouraged anyone with further information to come forward, emphasizing the impact of this event on the Derby community. “This incident has sent shockwaves through the community of Derby and the county as a whole,” she remarked.
