Seattle protesters struck by car; suspect in custody, police say

Two women were seriously hurt early Saturday morning when a vehicle drove into a group of protesters in Seattle, authorities say.

A suspect faces multiple felony charges, said Capt. Ron Mead of the Washington State Patrol.

Seattle has been the scene of protests over police brutality and systemic racism, including in a six-block area controlled by protesters after police abandoned their precinct — the Capitol Hill Organized Protest or Capital Hill Autonomous Zone.

A few blocks away at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the car drove into a group of protesters on a section that the WSP had closed about midnight. Mead said a car drove around a series of “support vehicles” that protesters were using to block I-5 and protect themselves, and onto the shoulder of the freeway where protesters were standing.

“A vehicle drove through the closure and struck multiple pedestrians on the freeway,” Trooper Rick Johnson said in a tweet.

Some of the protesters scattered to avoid being hit, but “unfortunately two were struck by the vehicle,” Mead said at a press briefing.

A 24-year-old woman from Seattle suffered life-threatening injuries. A 32-year-old woman from Bellingham, Washington, had serious injuries and was reported in stable condition, Mead said. Both were taken to Harborview Medical Center, the Seattle Fire Department said in a tweet.

The suspect, a 27-year old man from Seattle, was given a sobriety test and showed no signs of impairment, but the WSP continues to investigate, Mead said.

When asked if this was a “targeted attack,” Mead said, “We don’t know that, that does remain a focus of our investigation.”

The driver was expected to be booked into King County Jail later Saturday morning, Mead said. He has not been charged.

Mean said possible charges include vehicular assault and felony hit and run.

Mead added that the highway is not a safe place for pedestrians.

“Whether they’re protesters, whether they’re homeless, whether they’re broken down motorists, the freeway is simply not a safe place for pedestrians and we’ve said that steadfast,” he said. “My hope is the result of this tragedy, the protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I cannot guarantee their safety, plain and simple.”