29 August 2012 Last updated at 22:56 ET

Los Angeles driver, 100, hits group of children

Bystander: "We lifted the car up and we started pulling all the kids out"

A 100-year-old man reversed his car on to a pavement and hit 11 people, including nine children from a primary school, in Los Angeles, California.

Four children were in critical condition when firemen arrived on the scene but are all expected to survive.

Parents and children were buying snacks from a stall after school finished on Wednesday when Preston Carter backed a powder blue Cadillac towards them.

Some of the children ended up trapped under the car.

People tried to get the driver's attention, but it was too late.

A fire captain said the four children who were badly hurt were now stable, in serious condition in hospital.

Mr Carter told a local news station: "My brakes failed. It was out of control." He also said he had a driving licence and would be 101 on 5 September.

When asked about hitting the children, he said: "You know I'm sorry about that. I wouldn't do that for nothing on earth. My sympathies for them."

Police believe he was driving out of the car park of a grocery shop, but drove on to the pavement instead of pulling into the street.