A 36-year-old man faces multiple charges after a car struck pedestrians in Derby’s Friar Gate nightlife area, leaving seven people injured.
DERBY: A 36-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences following an incident where a car struck several pedestrians in the city centre over the weekend.
Sandhu Ponnachan faces six charges, including causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving, Derbyshire Constabulary announced late on Tuesday.
The incident occurred around 9:30 pm on Saturday in the popular Friar Gate nightlife area, resulting in injuries to seven people.
Ponnachan has also been charged with possession of a bladed article in connection with the event, according to a police statement.
Authorities have not indicated a possible motive for the attack at this stage.
All seven injured individuals were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, with four having since been discharged.
Ponnachan, a Derby resident who has lived in the UK for a number of years, was due to appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Police confirmed the suspect was originally from India, with UK forces now routinely releasing such details in high-profile cases following past incidents.
This policy change came after a 2024 mass stabbing in Southport targeting children was initially and falsely blamed on a supposed immigrant.
