A taxi driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a crowd of people near the Gostiny Dvor shopping center on Ilyinka street in central Moscow, injuring at least eight people, according to the Moscow authorities.
According to the police, the car first plunged into a road sign and then crashed into people, causing no fatalities.
As the local police and the city major have stated, the driver had lost control of the vehicle. He was detained and taken to the nearby police department. A criminal investigation has been opened into the incident.
"The driver lost control of the vehicle. Several people were injured, they have already received the necessary assistance. I keep the situation under control," the mayor stated on his Twitter.
The Moscow traffic authorities have stated that the driver had not intentionally rammed into the pedestrians, specifying, however, that he was sober, thus refuting some reports circulating in the media.
According to local media, citing its sources, the driver fell asleep while driving and "reflexly" hit the gas pedal, simultaneously rotating the wheel to the right.
Вот так выглядит место аварии сейчас. pic.twitter.com/6PJgNbb17j
— ЦОДД (@gucodd) June 16, 2018
They have also shared a photo of the man's driver's license, issued in Kyrgyzstan on August 13, 2013.
Виновник аварии на Ильинке pic.twitter.com/VQDAZZXdQI
— ЦОДД (@gucodd) June 16, 2018
Later on, the Mexican embassy confirmed previous local media reports that the country's citizens were among those wounded as a result of the incident.
"In relation to the incident that occurred today in the center of Moscow: it is reported that two Mexican citizens were slightly injured and that their health status is reported as stable and out of danger".
En relación con el incidente ocurrido hoy en el centro de Moscú, se informa que dos ciudadanas mexicanas resultaron con lesiones leves y que su estado de salud se reporta como estable y fuera de peligro.
— Embamex Rusia (@EmbaMexRus) June 16, 2018
As local outlets stated, citing its sources, several others injured are Russian and Ukrainian citizens.
Авария на Ильинке. pic.twitter.com/OL2YMz4XoB
— ЦОДД (@gucodd) June 16, 2018
— ЦОДД (@gucodd) June 16, 2018
