A woman hit by a vehicle that drove to a closed Seattle highway early Saturday morning and crashed into a crowd of protesters died, while a second woman remains in serious condition, authorities said.
Summer Taylor, 24, of Seattle, died Saturday night at Harborview Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg said. She had arrived at the hospital in critical condition.
2 WOMEN IN CAR ON SEATTLE HIGHWAY AMONG PROTESTS
Diaz Love, 32, of Portland, Oregon, remains in serious condition in the intensive care unit, Gregg said.
Taylor and Love were beaten at approximately 1:40 a.m. when a white Jaguar rushed toward the group protesting police brutality on Interstate 5, according to a police report released by the Washington State Patrol.
Emergency workers care for an injured person on the ground after a driver sped through a lockout related to the protests on Interstate 5 in Seattle early Saturday morning. (James Anderson via AP)
Ahead of the news of Taylor’s death, the Washington State Patrol tweeted Saturday night that it will no longer allow protesters on I-5, arresting all pedestrians walking on the freeway. The patrol said the move was for the safety of all citizens.
Authorities closed I-5 multiple times amid the riots, and Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead told reporters that protesters had closed the interstate highway for 19 days in a row.
“My hope is that as a result of this tragedy, protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I cannot guarantee their safety, it’s that simple,” Mead said.
Video of the crash on social media showed a white car hitting the women, who flew into the air before landing on the ground. Protesters can be heard yelling “Car! Car! “Before running for safety.
Dawit Kelete, 27, was arrested and searched on two counts of vehicular assault in connection with the incident, authorities said. (James Anderson via AP)
The driver, identified as Dawit Kelete, 27, of Seattle, fled the scene after hitting protesters, Private Chase Van Cleave told The Associated Press. A protester got into a car and chased Kelete for about a mile. The protester was able to pull his car in front of the Jaguar to stop the vehicle.
The soldiers arrived and took Kelete, who was alone, in custody, Mead said. The state patrol shared two images of the driver’s car with significant damage to his bumper and windshield.
Kelete was booked into the King County Correctional Facility on Saturday morning on two counts of vehicular assault. Bail was denied. He faces a second court hearing on Monday in which the judge will determine whether he can be released on bail, according to court documents.
Kelete was described by the offices as reserved and sullen when he was arrested, according to the documents, and asked if the pedestrians were okay.
Police are investigating a motive and where Kelete reached the interstate, that authorities had closed more than an hour before protesters were attacked. It was unclear if it was a targeted attack, Mead said, adding that drugs and alcohol were not considered factors.
The Washington State Patrol offered its condolences to Taylor’s family and friends, while Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the city supports the loved ones of the victims.
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“No one should risk their lives to better demand of our city, state and country,” Durkan tweeted.
Protests in Seattle have been ongoing in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, sparking a national movement condemning police brutality and racial inequality.
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Dozens of protesters were arrested last week after authorities cleared the “Capitol Hill Organized Protest” zone on Wednesday morning after the two fatal shooting of teenagers and other violent incidents that occurred in the area since the start of the occupation on June 8.
Vandana Rambaran and The Fox News Associated Press contributed to this report.
