Terror and panic spread as a luxury SUV, out of control, traveled through central streets of Kolonaki, struck and injured patrons of a restaurant before crashing into a tree. A total of 11 people were injured, while one man is hospitalized with multiple fractures in the ICU.
Frame by frame: the SUV’s blind path in reverse through Kolonaki
The video evidence captures the terror and panic. The black luxury SUV rolled uncontrolled down Loukianou Street in Kolonaki. It traveled 100 meters in reverse, out of control, and ended up on a sidewalk where citizens were sitting and dining at a restaurant.
In the middle were six tables that were empty at the time. Following them were three more tables where four people sat carelessly – three men and one woman. One of the men was looking at his phone. As soon as he heard the screaming, he turned his head and along with the other patrons ran to get away. The black SUV with its alarms flashing before coming to a stop struck four more people, who ended up in a “heap” on the sidewalk.
Kolonaki: condition of the injured victims
Five of the 11 injured were discharged. Six victims, two men and four women, remain hospitalized. Most seriously injured is a 46-year-old man who is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit with multiple fractures, and according to doctors his condition is stable.
A 48-year-old woman underwent surgery for a ruptured spleen, while another is expected to have surgery for an ankle fracture and knee rupture. Another 47-year-old woman is hospitalized in the First Surgical Clinic and is being monitored hemodynamically. The two other injured may be discharged tomorrow, as they have contusion injuries.
Kolonaki: “I crawled bloodied into the restaurant,” shocking testimony from woman
The testimony of a woman who was dining with her friends at the second table and was injured when the SUV crashed into her is shocking.
“When I heard the word car I was already down bloodied and I heard a metallic thing coming towards me and I crawled as I could to get to the store. A tsunami of metal, glass and objects,” she described and continued:
“I have a rib fracture, a finger fracture, I hit my head and have bruises and contusions. I am grateful and consider myself very lucky.”
How the Kolonaki accident happened: the valet’s mistakes
The 35-year-old who parked the car in Kolonaki allegedly made successive mistakes, resulting in it rolling down Loukianou Street and crashing into a restaurant where it injured 12 people.
According to traffic police sources, the 35-year-old, who was an external contractor working as a valet for another establishment in the area, was given the keys to the Mercedes SUV by its owner who went for a drink and couldn’t find a free parking space.
It should be noted that the car is automatic and the 35-year-old who undertook to park it did not put the gear lever in the parking position, nor did he properly apply the handbrake, as required for such vehicles, so the vehicle was not secured and rolled downhill.
Despite all efforts by the 35-year-old to stop it with his hands, it was not possible to succeed, and thus the accident occurred.
It is reminded that both the valet of the restaurant establishment in Kolonaki and the owner of the luxury car that caused the accident were released free.
