A 27-year-old man drove a car onto a closed freeway in Seattle early Saturday and around cars blocking the road. Black Lives Matter protesters were in the middle of the street in the dark of night dancing and marching during a police brutality rally dubbed the Black Femme March.
The driver struck two people in the crowd, killing one and critically injuring the other, authorities said.
Summer Taylor, only 24 years of age, of Seattle, sadly died in the evening at Harborview Medical Center, spokesperson Susan Gregg said.
Dawit Kelete of Seattle drove the car around vehicles that were blocking I-5 and sped into the crowd about 1:40 a.m., according to a police report released by the Washington State Patrol. Video taken at the scene by protesters showed people shouting “Car! Car!” before fleeing the roadway. However, police say the events are still under investigation.
Here are two pictures of the suspect vehicle that struck two protesters on I-5 this morning. Investigation into motive and point of entry in to I-5 are still under investigation. pic.twitter.com/gU1QH6TFTu
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) July 4, 2020
BAD PRACTICE
Blocking roads in the middle of the night for protests might not be the best practice.
The road was closed so the Black Lives Matter protesters could dance in the street in dark clothes in the middle of the night, keeping travelers from traveling on the I-5.
There were multiple reports that the driver was a white supremacist but he appears to be black.
Kelete was described by officers as reserved and sullen when he was arrested, according to court documents. He also asked if the pedestrians were OK, the documents say.
He was booked into the King County Correctional Facility on Saturday morning on two counts of vehicular assault. Bail was denied.
A judge found probable cause to hold Kelete on an investigation of vehicular assault. He faces a second court hearing on Monday at which the judge will determine if he can be released on bail, according to court documents.
The Washington State Patrol said Sunday evening that going forward it won’t allow protesters to enter I-5 and would arrest pedestrians on the freeway. [FINALLY]
The @wastatepatrol will not be allowing protesters to enter I-5. For the safety of all citizens including protesters and motorists, pedestrians walking on the freeway will be arrested. @wspd2pio
— WA State Patrol (@wastatepatrol) July 5, 2020
After two people shot to death, Mayor Durkan ended CHOP.
After a car plows into protesters, killing one, WA State Patrol stops protesters from marching on the freeway.All three deaths were avoidable but the city and state waited until AFTER their deaths to act.
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) July 5, 2020
THE DRIVER IDENTIFIED
The driver was identified as Dawit Kelete, age 27 years.
An Instagram page credited to a person named Dawit Kelete showed multiple photos of a Black man having fun in various settings that resembled college life at Washington State University. The man in those Instagram photos appeared to be the same person in the photos circulating on social media.
A LinkedIn page credited to a person named Dawit Kelete identified him as a sales manager as well as an operations manager for DoorDash in Seattle. His education was listed as Washington State University.
No alcohol was involved.
Summer Taylor, a non binary Black Lives Matter activist who was hit by a car while protesting on the I-5 freeway in Seattle, has died. Dawit Kelete, who is black, is accused of being the driver & was arrested. pic.twitter.com/Lr6Jp3BkzO
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 5, 2020
Repost. This is the video. Keep in mind, the driver was not a white person, but a black person. Regardless of race however, this. isnt. fucking. okay. pic.twitter.com/2YQ5rwsUL1
— b (@bpalmaaa) July 5, 2020
Summer Taylor, a non binary Black Lives Matter activist who was hit by a car while protesting on the I-5 freeway in Seattle, has died. Dawit Kelete, who is black, is accused of being the driver & was arrested. pic.twitter.com/Lr6Jp3BkzO
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 5, 2020
Subscribe to the Daily Newsletter
wpDiscuz
