Eight die as car ploughs through US market

Eight people were said to have died and dozens were hurt after a car ploughed through a crowded farmers’ market in Santa Monica, California, today.

Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Edward Osorio said as many as 25 pedestrians were injured.

The coroner’s office was notified of “at least” six deaths, but several other news reports said eight had been killed.

“We heard there were 25 pedestrians down, through the radio dispatch, though it’s not a definite number,” Osorio said.

Witness Rony Soussan told KCAL-TV the driver was speeding. ”He just ploughed through them like it was nothing,” Soussan said.

TV news reports showed a red car with a smashed front end.

More than a dozen fire engines and ambulances massed and plastic sheets were laid out to provide treatment areas for the injured.

The Wednesday market occupies two blocks along Arizona Avenue in the oceanside city, bisecting its popular Third Street pedestrian promenade. It draws thousands of shoppers.

Crumpled boxes of produce lay smashed on the ground along the path of destruction. The damaged red car appeared to have several shoes on its roof.