Baby and toddlers seriously hurt after trailer 'pinned pram against wall'

The incident happened on Pleasance Avenue in Dumfries

An eight-month-old baby and two toddlers, aged 14 months and 18 months, are in a serious condition in hospital after their pram was hit by a runaway trailer and "pinned against a wall" in Dumfries.

Michael Ashurst, who was one of the first on the scene of the incident in Pleasance Avenue, described it as "the most distressing and horrific thing I have ever seen in my life".

He helped pull the empty trailer away from the wall and tried to help a "physically shaken" 18-year-old woman who had been pushing the pram along the pavement with the children from the Gracie Drew Nursery.

Police said they believed the trailer had become detached from a Mitsubishi Outlander at about 15:15 on Monday.

The children were taken to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, then transferred to the Royal Children's Hospital in Glasgow where their condition has been described as serious.

The 18-year-old woman was taken to hospital and later discharged.

Police Scotland closed the road for an investigation and have appealed to the public for information.

Sgt David Kerr, of Police Scotland's road policing unit, said: "Inquiries into this incident are ongoing and we would urge anyone who have witnessed it to come forward."

Michael Ashurst stopped to try to help at the scene

Mr Ashurst, 42, from Newton Stewart, was driving through Dumfries when the crash happened and stopped to help at the scene.

"Obviously I saw what had happened and I just pulled over," he said.

"We had to pull the trailer away because it had pinned the pushchair up against the wall - I am getting chills just talking about it.

"We did that and there were the three kids there all with cuts. I ran to my car, grabbed what I could and I went to see the childminder who was physically shaken and shocked at what had happened."

He said he was still upset after what he had seen and hoped the children would be alright.

"I had nightmares last night - I have been up since half past five this morning, I just don't want to go back to sleep," he said.

"It is by far the most distressing and horrific thing I have ever seen in my life."

John Gibson was visiting a neighbour on Pleasance Avenue when the crash happened

John Gibson, who lives on Pleasance Avenue, described it as a "tragic accident" and said something needed to be done to slow traffic down in the area.

"I was in a neighbour's house on the other side of the street and heard the loud crash and got up," he said.

"We could see that a trailer had become detached from the big SUV that was pulling it.

"I couldn't see the children in the buggies, they were behind the trailer.

"But everybody in the community was going to help as best they could. Hopefully everybody will be fine and hopefully things will be done to reduce the risk on this busy street."

'Shocked and saddened'

A statement from the nursery said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic accident involving three of our beloved children.

"Our hearts are with them and their families during this incredibly difficult time.

"The safety and well-being of the children in our care is always our highest priority, and we are co-operating fully with the authorities as they investigate what happened."