Courtney Cunningham said she wasn't able to move fast enough to get out the car's way. Photos / Supplied / Daniel Birchfield
Courtney Cunningham said she wasn't able to move fast enough to get out the car's way. Photos / Supplied / Daniel Birchfield
A 13-year-old girl has described the terrifying moment a car hurtled on to the footpath, hitting her before killing another pedestrian.
Courtney Cunningham had gone into Oamaru with her half-sister, also 13, yesterday morning to buy phone chargers.
The pair were almost across a pedestrian crossing towards popular cafe LagondaMilk Bar when they heard a loud bang.
"I didn't know what it was or where it was coming from. Then I saw a car driving on the footpath towards us.
Police at the scene of the crash. One person was killed and several others were injured when the car mounted the kerb at speed. Photo / Daniel Birchfield
"My sister just got out of the way in time but I wasn't able to move fast enough... He ran over my foot."
The loud bang was the sound of the car driven by an elderly man hitting a 70-year-old woman on the footpath. She was taken to Dunedin Hospital with severe injuries.
"She was bleeding a lot and needed help to breathe. It looked like she was in a lot of pain," Courtney said.
Courtney next remembers hearing the screams of a man - the 67-year-old pedestrian who was hit by the car and died at the scene.
"[The driver] went over the top of him and he screamed. It all happened really quickly. Lots of people came running out from the shops and cafe.
"They were all asking if I was okay and asking what had happened."
The car then collided with two vehicles before driving into a pole.
Courtney's right foot was bruised in the crash. Photo / Supplied
Courtney's big toe on her right foot was bruised and she was taken by ambulance to Oamaru Hospital along with her sister and a woman whose car had been hit during the incident.
"The lady had a headache and bruising down her back. We were all in shock." The other drivers involved in the crash were also taken to Oamaru Hospital.
Courtney said it looked like an elderly man was driving the car which careened towards her but she didn't see his face.
Senior Sergeant Craig Sew Hoy, of Oamaru police, said police were still determining the cause of the crash and it was far too early to say if there would be any charges.
The name of the deceased man is expected to be released later this afternoon.
Police officers inspect the scene of the crash. photo / Rebecca Ryan
