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Dennis Donovan

(18,770 posts)
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 06:46 AM Jul 2020

Vehicle 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)

https://abcnews.go.com/US/vehicle-strikes-multiple-protesters-washington-hospital/story?id=71606896

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.

</snip>




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




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




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


49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Vehicle strikes multiple protesters in Washington, 2 people sent to hospital (WARNING Graphic video) (Original Post) Dennis Donovan Jul 2020 OP
Mt Rushmore hate speech denem Jul 2020 #1
Exactly what this was Johnny2X2X Jul 2020 #7
Stochastic terrorism. nt tblue37 Jul 2020 #21
So have you read the updates? cwydro Jul 2020 #44
No. It was a black man driving too fast. nt tblue37 Jul 2020 #46
Seattle, WA, not Washington DC Sanity Claws Jul 2020 #2
"according to Washington State Patrol" Dennis Donovan Jul 2020 #3
You have to read the article to see that Sanity Claws Jul 2020 #4
Call ABC News... Dennis Donovan Jul 2020 #5
Why should it have? PTWB Jul 2020 #25
Kick for added info Dennis Donovan Jul 2020 #6
Are there any pictures indicating how it was closed ? MichMan Jul 2020 #8
I think the video makes that irrelevant Dennis Donovan Jul 2020 #10
From what I have gathered in the latest articles madville Jul 2020 #14
That is closer to what I figured happened MichMan Jul 2020 #15
so you're saying the driver didn't intend to strike these protesters with his car SiliconValley_Dem Jul 2020 #17
They haven't released a motive yet or made formal charges madville Jul 2020 #18
Exactly. cwydro Jul 2020 #19
Here's video. Dr. Strange Jul 2020 #24
He accelerated and drove straight at them Sewa Jul 2020 #27
This message was self-deleted by its author GulfCoast66 Jul 2020 #29
The fact that several vehicles are blocking the road Sewa Jul 2020 #30
My team used to do road closures for road work. GulfCoast66 Jul 2020 #32
Sadly Summer has passed away Sewa Jul 2020 #33
Thank you. I will edit my post. GulfCoast66 Jul 2020 #34
your so-called version of events is incorrect SiliconValley_Dem Jul 2020 #38
A person looking to murder probably wouldn't have stopped immediately Sympthsical Jul 2020 #35
the person did not stop right away. they fled and were pursued SiliconValley_Dem Jul 2020 #39
He's also black, so . . . Sympthsical Jul 2020 #40
didn't say he was SiliconValley_Dem Jul 2020 #43
Premeditated attempted murder with clear evidence Dukkha Jul 2020 #9
You will never find a jury that will agree it is 1st degree MichMan Jul 2020 #11
bullshit. if police search his social media and show he had premeditated intent SiliconValley_Dem Jul 2020 #16
I doubt he had any white supremacy crap on his social media. cwydro Jul 2020 #45
never said he was a white supremacist. i said if his postings showed premeditated intent to harm SiliconValley_Dem Jul 2020 #47
That's way too early to say. PTWB Jul 2020 #26
Charged right now with 2 charges of vehicular assault MichMan Jul 2020 #41
Trump followers HAVE DECLARED WAR against all who are not true believers! bobbieinok Jul 2020 #12
Doesn't look like your typical Trump supporter to me MichMan Jul 2020 #23
You think he is a rump supporter? Tipperary Jul 2020 #48
That's horrifying.😳 dewsgirl Jul 2020 #13
Driver and victims identified madville Jul 2020 #20
I'm guessing not a white supremecist Sympthsical Jul 2020 #36
Lot's of jumping to conclusion- just like what happened in Minneapolis sarisataka Jul 2020 #22
This message was self-deleted by its author GulfCoast66 Jul 2020 #28
Good tip I got as a kid, don't play on the freeway. nt miyazaki Jul 2020 #31
One of the victims has died. nolabear Jul 2020 #37
Kind of late now MichMan Jul 2020 #42
But if the cops didn't allow them to protest, that would have been an issue, right? cwydro Jul 2020 #49
 

denem

(11,045 posts)
1. Mt Rushmore hate speech
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 06:57 AM
Jul 2020
We will not be demeaned, and we will not be intimidated by bad, evil people.

This attack on our liberty, our magnificent liberty, must be stopped.


 

cwydro

(51,308 posts)
44. So have you read the updates?
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 03:03 PM
Jul 2020

Still think it was a white terrorist influenced by the orange asshole?

Sanity Claws

(21,822 posts)
2. Seattle, WA, not Washington DC
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 07:05 AM
Jul 2020

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.

 

PTWB

(4,131 posts)
25. Why should it have?
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 11:37 PM
Jul 2020

It doesn’t really matter and anyone who cares can read the article for more info.

MichMan

(11,790 posts)
8. Are there any pictures indicating how it was closed ?
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 09:12 AM
Jul 2020

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)
10. I think the video makes that irrelevant
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 09:21 AM
Jul 2020

He sped around two cars straddling the road and *didn't* slow down until *after* he hit two pedestrians.

madville

(7,397 posts)
14. From what I have gathered in the latest articles
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 01:46 PM
Jul 2020

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)
15. That is closer to what I figured happened
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 01:59 PM
Jul 2020

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)
17. so you're saying the driver didn't intend to strike these protesters with his car
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:04 PM
Jul 2020

and its all just a big misunderstanding. got it.

madville

(7,397 posts)
18. They haven't released a motive yet or made formal charges
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:15 PM
Jul 2020

So any guesses about the driver's intent are pure speculation at this point.

 

cwydro

(51,308 posts)
19. Exactly.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:17 PM
Jul 2020

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)
24. Here's video.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 11:33 PM
Jul 2020



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.

Response to Sewa (Reply #27)

Sewa

(1,242 posts)
30. The fact that several vehicles are blocking the road
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 01:06 AM
Jul 2020

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)
32. My team used to do road closures for road work.
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 01:24 AM
Jul 2020

I watched the video. Guy is cruising along on an empty interstate, not side road. So say he’s 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 can’t see him being charged. And remember, we don’t 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 don’t 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 can’t see why that would be reasonable. If it is a Facebook post skip sending it. I could make that report.

Sewa

(1,242 posts)
33. Sadly Summer has passed away
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 01:36 AM
Jul 2020

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

Sympthsical

(8,936 posts)
35. A person looking to murder probably wouldn't have stopped immediately
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 01:58 AM
Jul 2020

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.

Dukkha

(7,341 posts)
9. Premeditated attempted murder with clear evidence
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 09:16 AM
Jul 2020

If the victims don't survive 1st degree murder. Anything less would me a miscarriage of justice.

 

SiliconValley_Dem

(1,656 posts)
16. bullshit. if police search his social media and show he had premeditated intent
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:03 PM
Jul 2020

then many jurors would convict . sorry not sorry

 

PTWB

(4,131 posts)
26. That's way too early to say.
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 11:39 PM
Jul 2020

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 it’s 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)
41. Charged right now with 2 charges of vehicular assault
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:22 AM
Jul 2020

Might change to something harsher now that one has died.

bobbieinok

(12,858 posts)
12. Trump followers HAVE DECLARED WAR against all who are not true believers!
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 09:41 AM
Jul 2020

It's taking us a while to realize it!

If/WHEN Biden wins, there may be more than 'white collar mobs' contesting his win!

 

Tipperary

(6,930 posts)
48. You think he is a rump supporter?
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 04:08 PM
Jul 2020

I suppose it is possible. Interesting how many here are silent on this horrible incident now that the man has been identified.

madville

(7,397 posts)
20. Driver and victims identified
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:30 PM
Jul 2020

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)
36. I'm guessing not a white supremecist
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 02:01 AM
Jul 2020

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)
22. Lot's of jumping to conclusion- just like what happened in Minneapolis
Sat Jul 4, 2020, 02:35 PM
Jul 2020

Criminal- definitely

Malicious- maybe, more details are needed

Response to Dennis Donovan (Original post)

MichMan

(11,790 posts)
42. Kind of late now
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 10:24 AM
Jul 2020

"The Washington State Patrol said Saturday evening that going forward it won’t 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)
49. But if the cops didn't allow them to protest, that would have been an issue, right?
Sun Jul 5, 2020, 08:36 PM
Jul 2020

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.

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