Nine people were injured, including three seriously, after a car ploughed into a crowd of people taking part in an annual procession, police said. The horror incident happened on December 22 in a small Dutch town, Nunspeet, at approximately 7pm local time. 

A car struck a group of people near the roundabout connecting Steenzolder and Elburgseweg, according to the Noord-en Oost-Gelderland emergency services office. The incident was caught on camera by a local resident, with footage capturing the sounds of the crash as well as faint screams. 

Several ambulances were dispatched to the area, as well as helicopters carrying three trauma teams, NL Times reports. 

Firefighters and police also attended the area, with officers setting up a cordon. 

Paramedics treated some of the casualties behind screens set up to give them privacy.  

Police said in a statement: “A procession was taking place in Nunspeet, and people were watching from the roadside verges. A car hit several people, resulting in a total of nine injuries. Three of them were seriously injured.”

The incident is believed to have been an accident. A 56-year-woman, who police said was the driver of the car, was arrested. 

Police added: “Police immediately launched an investigation into the cause. At this time, there appears to be no evidence of foul play. Further investigation is underway.

“The driver of the car in Nunspeet turned out to be a 56-year-old woman from the village. She has been arrested as a suspect, as is customary in the case of a serious accident. The woman herself sustained minor injuries.”