In a confusing episode that authorities are still trying to clear up, a tanker truck sped toward a crowd of thousands of demonstrators who were marching to protest the killing of George Floyd on a bridge in Minneapolis late Sunday afternoon. Demonstrators managed to scatter and surprisingly there were no immediate reports of any seriously injured protesters. The harrowing scene was caught on video from multiple angles and shows how the tanker truck barreled toward the crowd that was on the I-35W bridge.
A tanker truck barreled through thousands of peaceful protesters in Minneapolis as the crowd rushed out of the way. The driver was arrested and officials said no one was hit, though some protesters told local media that they had seen people with injuries. https://t.co/FohD5ehXFA pic.twitter.com/E6hssu9yaQ
- The New York Times (@nytimes) June 1, 2020
Witnesses said the truck sped toward the crowd beeping its horn as dozens had taken a seat or a knee for a moment of silence. "A truck came. The horns were blaring. It was picking up speed. It was plowing down the highway into the protesters," Melanie Ramos of Minneapolis told the Star Tribune. "It was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen." Another witness said he could smell the fuel and hear it "sloshing around" as the tanker approached. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington described it as "one of the most dangerous things I've ever seen."
New cell phone video of a tanker truck driving into protestors on the 35W bridge. Video shot by witness Treye Harrison. pic.twitter.com/jiVvyzIA07
- Boyd Huppert (@BoydHuppert) May 31, 2020
Protesters parted like the red sea as a tanker came speeding down the I-35 . One guy jumped in front of the truck to try and get the driver to stop https://t.co/7Gv2lgF3on pic.twitter.com/a1yKVEBGER
- Pandemic Lefty (@lazylefty) June 1, 2020
RAW VIDEO: Jeff & Sara Radichel sent us this video of the moment a tanker truck drove through peaceful protesters on the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis | https://t.co/OA7HXWJUrI #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/N9QetxZzXN
- WCCO - CBS Minnesota (@WCCO) May 31, 2020
Protesters swarmed the truck and pulled out the driver. Witnesses on social media said that law enforcement pepper sprayed peaceful demonstrators who had rushed out of the scene. There are reports that some demonstrators tried to stop the attack on the driver and several laid on him as protection. Police moved in and took the driver into custody. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being taken to jail. Officials say it isn't clear whether the driver was injured by the crash or protesters.
Tanker truck running people over on 35W bridge in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/5BbnVWMZDP
- Fuck the Curfew!! (@just_mattriley) May 31, 2020
INTENSE VIDEO shows the moments right after a tanker truck driver barreled through a peaceful protest of thousands on 35W in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/hzLB4BLqZv
- TC Crime Watch (@TCCrimeWatch) May 31, 2020
Authorities said the truck was already on the freeway before it was closed for traffic about an hour earlier. "I don't know the motives of the driver at this point in time," Gov. Tim Walz said. "But at this point in time to not have tragedy and many deaths is an amazing thing."
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