Father 'drives into river to kill son, six, and daughter, five'
source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250231/Father-arrested-car-carrying-children-plunge...
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A father drove his car into an icy river yesterday with his two children inside.
Witnesses claimed he was driving 'like a wild man' and was trying to kill the youngsters after a row with his wife.
The children, a boy of six and a five-year-old girl, screamed in terror and banged on the back window of the car as it plunged into the near freezing water.
The man - named by locals as Chris Grady - managed to grab his son Ryan from the back seat and scrambled ashore.
But his daughter Gabrielle was trapped in the vehicle and police divers spent two hours desperately trying to free her.
She was eventually brought to the riverbank barely alive. It is thought she survived because of an air pocket in the submerged car.
Both children were airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital and last night they were in a critical condition.
Police arrested Grady on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries, but was discharged later.
It is understood he bundled his two children into the car after an argument yesterday morning with his wife, from whom he was separated.
Witnesses said that shortly afterwards, around 9.20am, they saw the Vauxhall travelling at up to 50mph along Boat Lane - a dead-end dirt track which leads to a small jetty and ferry service across the Avon in Evesham, Worcestershire.
Martin Waites, 56, who lives nearby, said he watched in horror as the car sped into the water.
'I could hear a screech of brakes and a car driving at speed,' he said.
'I could see the man at the wheel and he looked like a wild man. My first thought was, "Oh my God, the guy is trying to kill himself". I could see dirt flying and the car fishtailing all over the place. He must have been doing at least 50mph.
'The car hit the water with an almighty bang and floated for a few seconds. Then I saw two children in the back seat screaming and banging on the window trying to get out.
'The dad must have realised what he had done and opened up his driver's door. Then all the water flooded in.
'He grabbed the boy and got out of the car just before the car sank, but the girl was still trapped inside. He managed to get on to the shore and collapsed.'
Fran Webb, spokesman for the Hampton Ferry, which operates a service across the river, said a groundsman working nearby had tried to flag the car down, but the driver refused to stop.
'Apparently, there was a domestic and the man drove off with the kids,' she said. 'The guy who witnessed it said the car came belting down the narrow road at great speed.
'The kids were screaming their heads off. The grounds worker started waving at the car indicating for it to slow down or pull over. But the car swerved out of the way and ploughed into the river.'
Mr Grady is thought to be a blacksmith at the Railway Forge in Evesham, making gates and railings.
Until a fortnight ago he had been living above a hairdresser's, in Evesham, after separating from his wife, but had recently been kicked out by his landlord.
Publican Robert Scrivens, 51, said: 'Grady is a regular at the pub most weekends with his two children. I'm absolutely shocked, Gabby and Ryan are lovely kids.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250231/Father-arrested-car-carrying-chi...
Witnesses claimed he was driving 'like a wild man' and was trying to kill the youngsters after a row with his wife.
The children, a boy of six and a five-year-old girl, screamed in terror and banged on the back window of the car as it plunged into the near freezing water.
The man - named by locals as Chris Grady - managed to grab his son Ryan from the back seat and scrambled ashore.
But his daughter Gabrielle was trapped in the vehicle and police divers spent two hours desperately trying to free her.
She was eventually brought to the riverbank barely alive. It is thought she survived because of an air pocket in the submerged car.
Both children were airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital and last night they were in a critical condition.
Police arrested Grady on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries, but was discharged later.
It is understood he bundled his two children into the car after an argument yesterday morning with his wife, from whom he was separated.
Witnesses said that shortly afterwards, around 9.20am, they saw the Vauxhall travelling at up to 50mph along Boat Lane - a dead-end dirt track which leads to a small jetty and ferry service across the Avon in Evesham, Worcestershire.
Martin Waites, 56, who lives nearby, said he watched in horror as the car sped into the water.
'I could hear a screech of brakes and a car driving at speed,' he said.
'I could see the man at the wheel and he looked like a wild man. My first thought was, "Oh my God, the guy is trying to kill himself". I could see dirt flying and the car fishtailing all over the place. He must have been doing at least 50mph.
'The car hit the water with an almighty bang and floated for a few seconds. Then I saw two children in the back seat screaming and banging on the window trying to get out.
'The dad must have realised what he had done and opened up his driver's door. Then all the water flooded in.
'He grabbed the boy and got out of the car just before the car sank, but the girl was still trapped inside. He managed to get on to the shore and collapsed.'
Fran Webb, spokesman for the Hampton Ferry, which operates a service across the river, said a groundsman working nearby had tried to flag the car down, but the driver refused to stop.
'Apparently, there was a domestic and the man drove off with the kids,' she said. 'The guy who witnessed it said the car came belting down the narrow road at great speed.
'The kids were screaming their heads off. The grounds worker started waving at the car indicating for it to slow down or pull over. But the car swerved out of the way and ploughed into the river.'
Mr Grady is thought to be a blacksmith at the Railway Forge in Evesham, making gates and railings.
Until a fortnight ago he had been living above a hairdresser's, in Evesham, after separating from his wife, but had recently been kicked out by his landlord.
Publican Robert Scrivens, 51, said: 'Grady is a regular at the pub most weekends with his two children. I'm absolutely shocked, Gabby and Ryan are lovely kids.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250231/Father-arrested-car-carrying-chi...
