On Saturday evening, witnesses said the driver of a car methodically and purposely plowed into groups of people on the Boardwalk in Venice, California. The driver’s action killed one person and injured at least 14.
Two of the injured were in serious condition, two were listed as critical and 10 others had varying degrees of injuries. In all, 10 people were transported to the hospital, including the one who died in route.
Authorities said the accident took place on Saturday after 6 p.m. local time. Police were told by witnesses that the car’s driver looked as if he was in control of his vehicle and was deliberately attempting to hit the people on the boardwalk.
One witness was enjoying the late afternoon sun when the incident took place and said the scene was gruesome and very bloody. She said blocks and blocks of people were tossed about on the sidewalk.
The driver was able to flee the scene of the incident. About one hour later, just when police were starting to circulate world about a black Dodge, a man entered a police station in Santa Monica, a neighboring city.
The man told officers he had been involved with an incident on the boardwalk. A car was later located close by that police believe was the one use by the man.
The man was still being questioned hours later and police were trying to determine if he had been the driver. No names were given of the person killed or of the person of interest.
The security video and accounts from witnesses indicate the man was wearing a baseball cap, white pants, gray shirt and was parked near the Cadillac Hotel.
The video showed him twice leaving his car and entering the pedestrian area, before returning to the Dodge Avenger making his way around the yellow safety poles that are supposed to prevent vehicles from the pedestrian only area.
Michael Turner
