‘This Is War Downtown': Witnesses Say Car Crash at Virginia Rally Was Intentional
A car plowed into counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia
•
Footage shows a vehicle appear to drive into a group of counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. Clashes between white nationalists and counter protesters had been ongoing on Aug. 12.
A car plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday afternoon, killing one person and injuring dozens others, according to officials.
The car sped down the narrow street toward the protesters, slowed down as it approached the crowd of people, then accelerated again, according to witness Brennan Gillmore.
"And then it reversed back into the street, dragging bodies and clothes," Gillmore told NBC News. "It was very clearly intentional."
The driver of the car is in custody, a state official told The Associated Press.
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
People receive first-aid after a car accident ran into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12, 2017. A vehicle plowed into a crowd of people Saturday at a Virginia rally where violence erupted between white nationalist demonstrators and counter-protesters, witnesses said, causing an unclear number of injuries.
Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A counter protester stomps on the leg of a White Nationalist during clashes at Emancipation Park where the White Nationalists are protesting the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12, 2017.
Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A White Supremacist open carries a rifle during clashes with counter protestors at Emancipation Park where the White Nationalists are protesting the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12, 2017.
Getty Images
White supremacists rush forward with shields and sticks during clashes with counter protesters at Emancipation Park where the White Nationalists are protesting the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12, 2017.
Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A White Supremacist tries to strike a counter protestor with a White Nationalist flag during clashes at Emancipation Park where the White Nationalists are protesting the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument in Charlottesville, Va., USA on August 12, 2017.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Rescue workers and medics tend to people who were injured as a car with the license plate GODKPME that was hit after another car plowed through a crowd of counter-demonstrators marching through the downtown shopping district Aug. 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The car plowed through the crowed following the shutdown of the "Unite the Right" rally by police after white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" and counter-protesters clashed near Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Rescue workers and medics tend to many people who were injured when a car plowed through a crowd of anti-facist counter-demonstrators marching through the downtown shopping district Aug. 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The car plowed through the crowed following the shutdown of the "Unite the Right" rally by police after white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" and counter-protesters clashed near Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Rescue workers move victims on stretchers after car plowed through a crowd of counter-demonstrators marching through the downtown shopping district Aug. 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The car plowed through the crowed following the shutdown of the "Unite the Right" rally by police after white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" and counter-protesters clashed near Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Rescue workers and medics tend to many people who were injured when a car plowed through a crowd of anti-facist counter-demonstrators marching through the downtown shopping district Aug. 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The car plowed through the crowed following the shutdown of the "Unite the Right" rally by police after white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" and counter-protesters clashed near Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.
Getty Images
White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" clash with counter-protesters as they enter Lee Park during the "Unite the Right" rally August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. After clashes with anti-fascist protesters and police the rally was declared an unlawful gathering and people were forced out of Lee Park, where a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee is slated to be removed.
Virginia State Police
EMPTY_CAPTION"Arrests are being made following declaration of unlawful assembly at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville," Virginia State Police said on Twitter.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
White nationalist demonstrators walk through town after their rally was declared illegal near Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
A counter demonstrator uses a lighted spray can against a white nationalist demonstrator at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
-A counter demonstrator throws a water bottle at an white nationalist demonstrator at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
White nationalist demonstrators clash with police at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse after chaotic violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
AP
White nationalist demonstrators hold their ground against Virginia State Police as police fire tear gas rounds in Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. At least one person was arrested.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
White nationalist demonstrators hold their ground as they clash with counter demonstrators in Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. At least one person was arrested.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017.
The Washington Post/Getty Images
Chanting "White lives matter! You will not replace us! and Jews will not replace us!" several hundred white nationalists and white supremacists carrying torches marched in a parade through the University of Virginia campus Friday night, 20 minutes before ending in skirmishing when the marchers were met by a small group of counter-protesters at the base of a statue of Thomas Jefferson, the university's founder.
Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Neo-Nazis, alt-rightists, and white supremacists take part a the night before the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacists march with tiki torches through the University of Virginia campus.
Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A group holds up a flag on the steps of the Rotunda as other Neo Nazis, alt-rightists, and wwhite supremacists march through the University of Virginia campus with torches in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 11, 2017.
Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Neo Nazis, alt-rightists, and white supremacists march through the University of Virginia campus with torches in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 11, 2017.
Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Neo-Nazis, alt-rightists and white supremacists march through the University of Virginia campus with torches in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug.11, 2017.
The incident capped off a day of violence and chaos that began when white nationalists gathered for a rally, waving confederate flags and chanting Nazi slogans. Counter-protesters arrived, and violence broke out soon after. Police in riot gear tried to quell the crowd with tear gas and the governer declared a state of emergency.
At about 1:45 p.m., a car turned towards a crowd counter-protesters and drove straight into it before driving off, according to witnesses.
"This is war downtown," Robert Grier tweeted just after the incident.
Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer tweeted that one person died in the day's violence. A spokeswoman for the University of Virginia Hospital said it treated 20 patients from the incident, and one had died.
I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will--go home.
The Charlottesville Police Department reported multiple injuries, but gave few details.
"Charlottesville Police and Virginia State Police are on the scene of a three vehicle accident at Water and 4th Streets in Downtown Charlottesville," the Charlottesville Police Department said in a statement. "Multiple injuries are reported. People should clear the area to allow emergency medical personnel to respond. We will release more information as we are able."
