Three people were injured after a car mounted the pavement and collided with pedestrians.
Witnesses described the scene in Leicester city centre like "ten pin bowling".
Officers were called to Humberstone Gate, near the junction with Charles Street, just before 5pm on Tuesday following reports a car had hit passers-by.
Three people were hurt, police said.
Company director, Dr Beejay Bhatt, said he saw a car come "barrelling down the road" and mount a pavement before sending a woman "flying".
The 36-year-old local said a teenager was then launched into the door of a fast food outlet and "bounced" off, with emergency services arriving minutes later.
He said: "It was pandemonium. Hundreds of people started crowding and the police had to put up this tape.
"It was like ten pin bowling. It was ridiculous."
Dr Bhatt said the site of the incident was near a line of about eight bus stops which, given the time and central location, were crowded with people making their way home.
After the incident, Humberstone Gate was closed from its junction with Charles Street to its junction with Wharf Street South. Yeoman Street has also been closed.