Police: Multiple Protesters Struck By Vehicle In Murray Hill
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Multiple pedestrians were struck by a vehicle during a protest in Murray Hill on Friday.
Six people were injured and taken to local hospitals, CBS2's Andrea Grymes reports. No one suffered life-threatening injuries.
Officers were called to the scene near East 39th Street and Third Avenue just after 4 p.m.
A livestream video shows protesters walking across Third Avenue, then the camera pans to a BMW and people banging on it before the driver guns it, stepping on the gas and hitting protesters while speeding across 39th Street.
"I turned around, I see a car coming. I said 'wait,' they flew past me. One of my brothers moved me out the way, you know what I'm saying? Then the car started just hitting people, like literally smacking people. I saw my brother go about seven feet [in the air], you know what I'm saying? It could've been me, he moved me out the way," witness Desmond Marrero said.
Marrero says about 30 people were protesting in solidarity with those on a hunger strike at an ICE facility in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Another protester says he saw the driver coming initially and stepped in front of her because she wasn't slowing down.
"Her bumper hit my leg right here. Immediately, I put my whole back onto the car. She's still going a little bit. Remember, it's not going too, too fast but it's going a little bit. I jumped off the side. Once I jumped off the side, she went," the protester said.
Video shows the injured down in the street while fellow protesters and police officers came to their aid.
"I managed to jump out of the way to the right. Somebody next to me wasn't so lucky," witness Christian Resseguie said.
According to police, the driver stayed at the scene after the incident and is being questioned. It's unknown at this time if the driver will face any charges.
One protester was arrested for obstructing governmental administration.
Update: Woman Accused Of Driving Car Into Group Of Protesters In Murray Hill Arrested, NYPD Says
MORE FROM CBS NEW YORK