Three dead, dozens injured after protest of White Nationalist rally in Va. turns violent
People fly into the air as a vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. The nationalists were holding the rally to protest plans by the city of Charlottesville to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. There were several hundred protesters marching in a long line when the car drove into a group of them. (Ryan M. Kelly/The Daily Progress via AP)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WSET) - Charlottesville's mayor confirms at least one person is dead after a car crashed into pedestrians in Charlottesville after the Unite the Right rally Saturday.
Charlottesville police Chief Al Thomas says a 32-year-old woman was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters on the Downtown Mall. The death is being investigated as a homicide.
City officials now say the crash is linked to the rallies earlier in the day.
The identity of the woman killed in the car crash is being withheld until family can be notified.
Signer tweeted, urging people to go home.
According to the Associated Press, the driver was taken into custody.
Officials say the crash involved three vehicles and that several people were injured.
The hospital confirmed to the Associated Press that 19 people were injured.
City officials say 15 others were injured in the protests, but not when the car crashed.
This caused UVA Hospital to cancel all elective surgery, including those who have cancer.
“It is now clear that public safety cannot be safeguarded without additional powers, and that the mostly out-of-state protesters have come to Virginia to endanger our citizens and property," Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a statement. " I am disgusted by the hatred, bigotry and violence these protesters have brought to our state over the past 24 hours. The actions I have taken are intended to assist local government and restore public safety.
Police are asking people to avoid the area of Water and 4th Streets so medics can respond.
The Virginia National Guard was brought in to help police clear the area.
An unlawful assembly has since been declared and police are making arrests, authorities say.
President Donald Trump condemned the violence in Charlottesville hours before he addressed the incident during a press conference in New Jersey on Satursday afternoon saying:,"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides."
Virginia Senator Mark Warner released the following statement:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a breaking news story, stay with ABC 13 for updates.
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