Up to 20 vehicles are believed to have been damaged after they were reportedly struck by a motorist who fled gardai in rush hour traffic in Dublin city centre this afternoon.
Drama unfolded on a busy Westmoreland Street at around 5.30pm when a car being pursued by gardaí reversed out of traffic before driving at speed towards O'Connell Street. He appeared to have hit at least one vehicle in his attempt to escape.
A Garda on a motorcycle came off his bike in what appeared to be a series of minor collisions in the traffic. He was limping and slightly shaken when ireland.comattended the scene.
It is understood the Garda involved in the accident had stopped a motorist on Dame Street after he had been notified by the owner of a stolen car that he had seen it in the area.
The Garda found the car and asked the driver to pull in. Instead the motorist drove off, banging into a number of vehicles on Dame Street and College Green, a Garda on the scene said.
A number of vehicles sitting in traffic on Westmoreland Street appeared to have suffered slight damage as the driver attempted to flee.
There were traffic delays for a short time but gardai quickly restored the flow. A member of the Garda mounted unit as well as Garda vehicles and a Garda on a bicycle were also on the scene. Some gardai were interviewing motorists whose vehicles were damaged.
It is not known whether the driver who caused the damage has yet been apprehended.
