Liverpool suspect is 'fantastic' dad as neighbours say 'it doesn't make sense'
Stunned neighbours told the Mirror "it doesn't make sense" after a 53-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug-driving in the wake of the horror incident in Liverpool
The suspected driver in the Liverpool victory parade horror crash has been described by neighbours as a 'nice family' man - despite the injured now totalling almost 80.
Stunned residents in the quiet cul-de-sac where the driver lives with his three young sons and wife told the Mirror: "It just doesn't make sense."
Detectives were given extended powers to keep quizzing the 53-year-old man from the West Derby area of the city, who has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug-driving. Merseyside Police said the total number injured had risen to 79, with seven still recovering in hospital yesterday.
Celebrations for Liverpool FC's title winning parade came to a dramatic end on Monday night when a Ford Galaxy plowed through crowds in the city centre. Horror clips showed fans tossed in the air, dragged under the vehicle and prams thrown down Water Street.
The suspect's name emerged as police officers and vans were stationed outside his four-bed £300,000 family home. The Mirror has chosen not to identify him.
One neighbour said: 'It seems completely out of character. They are such a nice family, the boys are really nice and well-behaved. [He] is a fantastic guy. He came over to help us when our alarm went off once, and then did the same for our immediate neighbours too.
'It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't feel right. They are lovely. The whole thing is so sad - for his wife and children and also for the people who were injured.'
The suspect, who is a former director of two companies, can be seen posing in loved-up pictures on social media enjoying overseas family holidays and family parties.
Another neighbour added that when they saw police descend on the quiet cul-de-sac on Monday they had joked about a neighbour being the suspect - only to discover in horror he had been arrested.
"We turned in and there were three or four police cars on the top of our road and we just said 'Oh my God, imagine if he is on our road' and that was it and now we are like s***"."
Police are now expected to charge the suspect. The force has not revealed what drugs they believe the driver had taken.
In an update posted yesterday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: 'I'm pleased to say that the number of people in hospital is reducing as they continue to recover from the awful incident.
'We continue to support those still receiving treatment and as part of our ongoing enquiries we are identifying more people who were injured.
'I want to reassure the public of Merseyside that detectives are making significant progress as we seek to establish the full circumstances that led to what happened."
Among those injured was new dad Daniel Eveson, who thought his little family were 'going to die' when his son's buggy was dragged 15ft in the carnage.
The traumatised dad, 36, said the driver was screaming and 'delirious' after fans pulled him from behind the wheel to stop him going any further.
'He was just screaming, 'get off, get away.' He seemed delirious, he just seemed like he didn't know where he was. It's a miracle that no one lost their lives."
Daniel, from Telford, Shrops, added it was nothing short of a 'miracle' that his family survived and has now dubbed his five month old baby boy 'Super Ted' after he escaped completely unscathed.
'He's our miracle. He's 'Super Ted'. I keep crying every time I hold him. I can't believe we've still got him, he didn't even break a finger,' Daniel told The Mirror.
He told how his fiancée Sheree Aldridge, 36, is also 'getting better' after the car ran over her leg, leaving her with muscle and tissue damage and lacerations.
He said: 'I basically held the pram but the pram got taken out of my hands and my hands went on the bonnet to try and stop the car. Then Sheree went up on the bonnet and then dropped off and then went under it.
"I looked to my side to see her and she just wasn't there,' he said, breaking down in tears and adding: 'Oh my God it was just horrible. I just want justice.'
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