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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVehicle strikes multiple protesters in Washington, 2 people sent to hospital (WARNING Graphic video)
Last edited Sat Jul 4, 2020, 08:08 AM - Edit history (4)
The suspect is in custody.
By William Mansell
July 4, 2020, 6:33 AM
One person has life-threatening injuries and another is in serious condition after a vehicle drove through protesters walking on a closed interstate in Washington state overnight, according to Washington State Patrol.
The vehicle, according to Washington Patrol PIO Rick Johnson, drove through a closure along I-5 and struck multiple people on the freeway.
Authorities stopped the vehicle and the suspect is in custody.
Interstate 5 between SR 520 and I-90 was closed multiple times in the last 24 hours due to protests.
Authorities are holding a press conference at 4 a.m. local time to provide updates.
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Link to tweet
Trooper Rick Johnson @wspd2pio
I am on scene of the incident on I-5 and Olive way. A vehicle drove through the closure and struck multiple pedestrians on the freeway. Two people were transported to Harborview. One with life threatening injuries and one with serious injuries.
5:22 AM · Jul 4, 2020
Link to tweet
Trooper Rick Johnson @wspd2pio
Here are two pictures of the suspect vehicle that struck two protesters on I-5 this morning. Investigation into motive and point of entry in to I-5 are still under investigation.
7:17 AM · Jul 4, 2020
Link to tweet
Larry Subramanian @LarrySubramania
#seattleprotests Please pray for the victims of this cowardly and senseless attack. They were peaceful protesters. This is terrible.
Embedded video
4:49 AM · Jul 4, 2020
denem
(11,045 posts)This attack on our liberty, our magnificent liberty, must be stopped.
Johnny2X2X
(18,745 posts)Trumps speech was a call for violence. He wants a civil war.
tblue37
(64,982 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)Still think it was a white terrorist influenced by the orange asshole?
tblue37
(64,982 posts)Sanity Claws
(21,822 posts)I put in the clarification, in case someone misunderstands the heading, as I did.
The article didn't state the city but said that the road was closed interestate, Interstate 5 between SR 520 and I-90. That is Seattle.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)Sanity Claws
(21,822 posts)The heading should have said Seattle.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)Have a Happy 4th!
PTWB
(4,131 posts)It doesnt really matter and anyone who cares can read the article for more info.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)MichMan
(11,790 posts)What type of barricades did they have and were there detour signs posted ?
When they close entrance ramps around here all the signage leading up to the closures are marked clearly stating "closed" and directing people on the detour needed to get on the freeways. Also they are barricaded completely across to prevent cars from entering.
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)He sped around two cars straddling the road and *didn't* slow down until *after* he hit two pedestrians.
madville
(7,397 posts)The Interstate was not officially closed, the protestors themselves had barricaded the interstate with the vehicles seen in the video like that white van.
Only new details are that the 27-year old driver is being held pending charges. That was a 2018 or newer Jaguar XJ. If I had to wager the idiot was driving at a high rate of speed and came upon the interstate barricaded off and attempted to swerve around the van, hitting the two protestors. Still negligent and criminal, dude is gonna do some time.
MichMan
(11,790 posts)People here are acting like he knew it was closed and deliberately went down it at high speeds to purposely try and kill people.
SiliconValley_Dem
(1,656 posts)and its all just a big misunderstanding. got it.
madville
(7,397 posts)So any guesses about the driver's intent are pure speculation at this point.
Could be a drunk, or an elderly person who got confused.
But people do love to jump to conclusions, don't they?
Dr. Strange
(25,898 posts)Link to tweet
Some assholes blocked off most of the road way, leaving very little room.
I don't think he meant to hit protestors; if he did, he would have aimed for the much larger group on the edge.
Sewa
(1,242 posts)He could have veered the left and missed everyone.
Response to Sewa (Reply #27)
GulfCoast66 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Sewa
(1,242 posts)might give someone a hint that something is going on. Plus it was reported he drove an exit ramp to access the freeway.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)I watched the video. Guy is cruising along on an empty interstate, not side road. So say hes going 70. Suddenly with no warning there is a van blocking the slow lane he is in and the middle lane. He did the correct thing and took to the shoulder. Then immediately got back in the traffic lane as he should have done. Plus, probably saw the people i the shoulder in front of him. Had he wanted to kill people he would have stayed in the shoulder and floored it. But he did the correct thing. I bet he was like WTF when, right before he hit those folks he saw them standing in the interstate. Standing in the interstate!
Unless he was drunk I cant see him being charged. And remember, we dont know if he broke the law. But we know 2 people who definitely were. The poor ladies hit.
You do work with a crew on roadways for 2 years and your sympathy level for shit goes way down. Most Americans get no real driving training and do not realize how long it takes to stop a vehicle going 70 mph. And most Americans dont watch the road far Enough in front of them which makes it worse.
And please post the reports that he drove up an exit ramp. I drive interstates and cant see why that would be reasonable. If it is a Facebook post skip sending it. I could make that report.
Sewa
(1,242 posts)Officials were trying to determine the motive as well as where he got onto the interstate, which had been closed by the state patrol for more than an hour before the women were hit. Mead said they suspect Kelete drove the wrong way on a ramp. Trooper Rick Johnson said the driver went through a barrier that closed the freeway before striking the women.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/1-of-2-protesters-hit-by-car-on-closed-seattle-highway-dies/ar-BB16lvtY
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)SiliconValley_Dem
(1,656 posts)the driver who hit protesters did not stop right after. he fled the scene
Sympthsical
(8,936 posts)We're not sure what happened here. Idiot driver. Impairment. Etc.
People are all assuming another Charlottesville.
I think we should wait for the police to investigate and figure it out. If this was intentional and the man is connected to any hate group, we'll find out in due course.
The fact that he immediately stopped tells me I don't think this was intentional. But I know as much as anyone else, which is to say very little.
SiliconValley_Dem
(1,656 posts)Sympthsical
(8,936 posts)Probably not a white supremacist.
SiliconValley_Dem
(1,656 posts)Dukkha
(7,341 posts)If the victims don't survive 1st degree murder. Anything less would me a miscarriage of justice.
MichMan
(11,790 posts)SiliconValley_Dem
(1,656 posts)then many jurors would convict . sorry not sorry
cwydro
(51,308 posts)He's not white.
SiliconValley_Dem
(1,656 posts)PTWB
(4,131 posts)It appears to be a deliberate targeting of these protestors. The perp may well have ties to extremist organizations, he may admit that it was a premeditated attack when interrogated by the police, etc.
While its certainly possible they may not make a 1st degree charge, it is also extremely premature to say you will never find a jury to agree it is 1st degree.
MichMan
(11,790 posts)Might change to something harsher now that one has died.
bobbieinok
(12,858 posts)It's taking us a while to realize it!
If/WHEN Biden wins, there may be more than 'white collar mobs' contesting his win!
MichMan
(11,790 posts)but I suppose he could be.
Tipperary
(6,930 posts)I suppose it is possible. Interesting how many here are silent on this horrible incident now that the man has been identified.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)I hope they survive.😢
madville
(7,397 posts)Driver is a 27 year old, Dawit Kelete, Washington State University graduate and operations manager for DoorDash.
[url=https://imgbb.com/][img][/img][/url]
[url=https://ibb.co/HgVp8yr][img][/img][/url]
The two victims, Summer Taylor, 24, of Seattle and Diaz Love, 32, of Bellingham.
[url=https://imgbb.com/][img][/img][/url]
[url=https://ibb.co/WxfQmsW][img][/img][/url]
https://newsone.com/3970690/dawit-kelete-seattle-protest-hit-run-driver-identified/
Sympthsical
(8,936 posts)People need to stop jumping to conclusions just to suit their personal favored narratives before we have any information at all.
It harms no one to wait even a day before popping off and "knowing" what happened, raging on social media, and spreading misinformation. This is why the internet sucks.
sarisataka
(18,220 posts)Criminal- definitely
Malicious- maybe, more details are needed
Response to Dennis Donovan (Original post)
GulfCoast66 This message was self-deleted by its author.
miyazaki
(2,221 posts)nolabear
(41,915 posts)Madness. Just madness.
MichMan
(11,790 posts)"The Washington State Patrol said Saturday evening that going forward it wont allow protesters to enter I-5 and would arrest pedestrians on the freeway."
"Protesters had shut down the interstate for 19 days in a row, Mead said at a press conference
cwydro
(51,308 posts)And wow, pretty quick that everyone was calling 911.
Guess cops might have a function after all.
Meanwhile, any threads about this subject I expect to sink pretty damn quick, as someone pointed out on another thread.