Edinburgh Cowgate crash: Two children among five taken to hospital after Cowgate crash sees car hit pedestrians

Two children are among five people rushed to hospital after a car struck multiple pedestrians and a taxi in Edinburgh city centre.

Emergency services were called to the Cowgate at around 6.55pm on Thursday night following reports of a serious crash. Two women, aged 50 and 42, an 11-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh after being struck by a Volkswagen Golf. A 50-year-old man, the driver of a taxi, was also taken to the hospital after the same car struck his vehicle while it was stationary.

Police confirmed a 53-year-old man, the driver of the Volkswagen, was arrested at the scene. The 50-year-old woman remains in a stable condition in hospital. Four of the casualties have been released following treatment.

The Cowgate was closed off while incident teams investigated. Officers said enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 6.55pm on Thursday, November 2, officers were called to a report of a road crash on Cowgate, Edinburgh. Two women aged 50 and 42 years, a 54-year-old man, an 11-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl had been struck by a Volkswagen Golf. The car had also struck a stationary taxi being driven by a 50-year-old man.

"The pedestrians were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The 50-year-old woman’s condition is described by hospital staff as stable. The others were released after treatment. The driver of the taxi was uninjured. A 53-year-old man has been arrested and released pending further enquiry. The investigation is continuing."