A man has been charged with the attempted murder of eight people after an alleged hit-and-run on the Sunshine Coast left a woman aged 24 fighting for life.

Police said a Toyota Yaris ploughed into eight pedestrians near the intersection of Aerodrome Road and Fourth Avenue in Maroochydore late last night.

Police will allege a “minor” incident took place between the 38-year-old driver and a group of men just before as they used a pedestrian crossing.

Peter Hocken said the incident was a “tragedy”. (Nine)

The driver is believed to have driven away before returning and allegedly hitting the pedestrians on the footpath on purpose, police say.

Eight people, six men as well as two women who police say happened to be walking, by were hit.

A 24-year-old woman from New South Wales who was visiting family was left with life-threatening injuries.

She was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

Three others, all teenagers, were taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with minor injuries, but were released.

“It was minor in nature,” Detective Acting Inspector Peter Hocken said.

“It was just a traffic incident, the males were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing, and the male driver took offence to that, and got out and challenged the males.”

The driver of the Yaris, a foreign man living in Maroochydore, allegedly fled in the car, but was found a short time later by police at his unit.

He has been charged with eight counts of attempted murder.

Hocken said the incident was “unbelievable”, especially given the injured woman was not involved in the initial incident.

“This is a tragedy, it’s terrible what’s happened to this poor woman and her family before Christmas. It’s inconceivable,” he said.

Police believe alcohol may have been involved, but investigations continue.

The driver will face Maroochydore Magistrates Court tomorrow.