Russia taxi crash: 'Drunk driver' smashes into 'World Cup fans' in Moscow – 8 injured

Eight people were injured after the vehicle ran into a group of pedestrians near Red Square.

Video from the crash shows the vehicle sharply pulling out of stationary traffic before speeding up and mounting the pavement.

The footage shows some pedestrians were knocked down after it hit a crowd, while others were carried along on the bonnet.

The driver, dressed in black trousers and a black t-shirt, attempted to flee but was apprehended by bystanders.

Russian news agency Interfax has quoted a source as saying the driver may have been drunk.

However, a witness said the driver did not appear drunk when he tried to run from the scene.

The witness said: “He was pulled out of the vehicle, he ran off but bystanders apprehended him. He was shouting: ‘It wasn’t me’.”

Those injured include two Mexicans, two Russians and a Ukrainian citizen, the Russian news agency TASS reports.

Citing a medical source, Interfax said none of those hurt are believed to be critically injured.

Moscow Police said the driver likely lost control of the vehicle rather than deliberately steering his car into pedestrians.

Moscow’s traffic management authority said the driver claimed he did not hit the crowd on purpose.

CCTV images show the taxi came to a stop next to a knocked-down traffic sign.

A second image released by the traffic authority shows the vehicle’s front bumper was ripped off.

The driver of the taxi has been detained, officials said.

They added the driver had a licence from the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan, a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet republic.

Mexico get their World Cup campaign underway tomorrow when they face Germany at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium.

This is a breaking story, more to follow…