C15A hits pedestrians in Melbourne ANZAC Day march

[Keith Webb]

This pic from the Melbourne Herald Sun... this happened a couple of hours ago so not a lot of news yet but it seems the throttle somehow jammed and the truck ran into the back of marching veterans. This was the lead vehicle in the 2009 Corowa parade. A terrible thing to have happened.

Two members of the Ceylon Ex-service Association taking part in Melbourne’s Anzac Day parade are in a critical condition after being hit by their own truck.

The accident happened opposite the Arts Centre on St Kilda Road, on the Anzac parade route, at about 12.30pm this afternoon.

[Max Hedges]

Keith this accident was mentioned on the news a while ago. Hope everyone is OK.

[Keith Webb]

An old military truck has ploughed into a group of marchers at Melbourne's Anzac Day parade after a suspected mechanical fault.

Seven Sri Lankan ex-servicemen aged in their 70s and 80s have been injured in the crash.

The crash happened around 12:30pm along the route the parade through the city.

Witnesses say a World War II era truck taking part in the parade surged forward suddenly.

The truck crashed into a group of veterans that were marching in front.

The injured men are part of the Ceylon ex-serviceman's association.

Four suffered serious abdominal, pelvic, and leg, injuries, and have been taken to hospital.

Three men have also been taken to hospital with cuts and abrasions.

Witness say the scene was horrific, with four or five people dragged underneath underneath the vehicle.

Police are interviewing dozens of people who witnessed the crash.

Source

[Euan McDonald]

I have been following this story since it happened and its amazes me the way the media report this type of event. One headline I saw on the web was
" Truck takes off like a jet" and the other report that the driver was 90 years old!.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Euan McDonald

I have been following this story since it happened and its amazes me the way the media report this type of event. One headline I saw on the web was
" Truck takes off like a jet" and the other report that the driver was 90 years old!.

Yes, sad to see how stupidly the media reports things without checking. It led the 10 news bulletin tonight but reported the driver to be 64 which I think may be nearer the mark.

Naturally our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and also the driver whom many of us know.

[lynx42]

Our thoughts are with both the Veterans who were unfortunately involved and also the driver. Let us all hope that everyone recovers well.

The police enquiries will eventually discover the reasons behind this most unfortunate accident. I hope the Media do not sensationalize it too much.

[Douglas Greville]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Yes, sad to see how stupidly the media reports things without checking. It led the 10 news bulletin tonight but reported the driver to be 64 which I think may be nearer the mark.

Naturally our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and also the driver whom many of us know.

Channel 7 (Rural - not national) said he was 54. It gave a clear shot of
the driver but I didn't recognise him.

Unfortunate accident.

I bowed out of doing parades where people and vehicles are mixed quite a few years ago, far too stressful. Worst I have ever seen is the Bayeux D-Day parade in France - people run out in front of the vehicles and lie down to take pics......
Passengers in vehicles throw lollies, which means small children rush in to
pick them up. This is with tracked, 6x6, Ducks etc.
Not my scene.

Doug

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally Posted by Max Hedges

Keith this accident was mentioned on the news a while ago. Hope everyone is OK.

This item hit the 1830 hrs EST news here in Canada.

Should it have happened here in Canada, the prevailing policy wonks (wanks) would have immediately called for a total ban on possession of such murderous machines.

I'm only halfway joking.

[Keith Webb]

Bet they didn't pick it as a Canadian Military Pattern truck though.

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

This item hit the 1830 hrs EST news here in Canada.