What started as a festive evening celebrating Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League win ended in chaos and confusion—leaving dozens injured and one man’s life turned upside down.
Now, friends are speaking out in defense of the driver at the centre of it all, a man described not as reckless or malicious, but simply overwhelmed in a moment of panic.
A Simple Favour Turns into a Nightmare
The man behind the wheel—a 53-year-old former Royal Marine commando—was reportedly just doing a favour for his wife’s friend.
According to someone close to him, he had offered to drop off the woman and her daughter for an appointment when things suddenly spiraled.
Caught in the thick of the victory parade crowd, the driver found his car surrounded by fans.
His friend says supporters smashed his window, opened his door, and even grabbed him by the throat. That’s when he panicked.
“He wasn’t there to cause trouble,” the friend insisted.
“He was just trying to get out of a bad situation.”
A Blank Spot in His Memory
The father of three has allegedly told family that he remembers very little of what happened during the incident.
After calling his wife to tell her what was unfolding, he may have blacked out.
His friend claims he experienced a kind of mental shutdown—something not uncommon in extreme stress situations, especially for someone with a military background.
Since Monday night, he’s been held in custody, suspected of multiple counts of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and driving under the influence of drugs.
The crash happened just after 6 p.m. on Water Street, near the iconic Royal Liver Building.
A Scene of Celebration Turns to Horror
The crash injured 79 people. Fifty of them needed hospital treatment, and police confirmed today that victims ranged in age from nine to 78—all believed to be British.
Shocking videos show the Ford Galaxy tailgating an ambulance through a roadblock before ploughing into the crowd. Four people were trapped underneath the car.
The footage has gone viral, drawing outrage and fear.
Friends Struggle to Understand
Despite the horror, those who know the man are struggling to make sense of it.
“He hasn’t touched alcohol in more than 20 years,” his friend said. “And drugs? That’s just not who he is.”
Described as someone with “a heart of gold,” he’s a family man with a long record of military service and a career in cybersecurity.
According to his LinkedIn, he served in the Marines in the 1990s and later studied psychology and maths at a Russell Group university.
He’s also worked with NHS trusts and started his own businesses.
The Picture of a Family Man
Social media shows the man enjoying holidays with his wife of 20 years and their kids—trips to Disneyland, family photos, smiling faces.
His friend added, “It’s so surreal to watch that footage and then hear what actually happened. It gives a totally different perspective.”
Since the incident, his wife—who teaches Sunday school—and their children have left the family’s £300,000 home in West Derby, a suburb of Liverpool.
A Mechanic Recalls an Immaculate Car and a Proud Dad
A local mechanic who had serviced the Ford Galaxy just three months before the crash also came forward, shocked at seeing the vehicle on the news. “I just thought—Oh my God, I know that car.”
Steven, who asked for his surname to be withheld, described the car as spotless.
“It was his pride and joy,” he said. “He was with his wife and eldest when I met him.
He clearly loved that car and his family.”
He even remembered a picture of the man’s wife and kids on the dashboard.
“You can tell a lot from a person’s car,” he said.
“This guy came across like a genuine, clean-living, sporty type. No way he was into drugs.”
A Community Stunned and Searching for Answers
Steven saw the viral video not long after the crash and instantly recognised both the car and the driver.
“I thought, ‘What was he thinking?’ It just doesn’t add up.”
He admitted he didn’t know much about the man’s personal life, but nothing about their encounter hinted at anything troubling.
“All I can imagine is that he panicked because his car was getting smashed and he lost control.”
Police Continue Their Investigation
As Merseyside Police continue to investigate, the city remains shaken.
While many are still trying to come to terms with the trauma, others are beginning to ask deeper questions—not just about what happened, but about why.
The man’s story, and the perspectives of those who know him, paint a more complicated picture than a simple criminal act.
Whether it was a moment of sheer panic or something more, one thing is clear: what happened Monday night has left emotional scars far beyond the physical ones.