Screenshot: WNEM
Police in Genesee County, Michigan, are searching for the driver of a Chevrolet HHR that struck five striking United Auto Workers union members as they left the General Motors Flint Processing Center last night. After hitting the picket line, the driver fled the scene, WNEM reports. Two picketers were taken to hospital for their injuries but do not appear to be in serious condition at this time.
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“These people are just making a living and they want a little bit bigger piece of the pie, and this is happening. “It’s very disturbing,” Steve Dawes, director of UAW Region 1D, told WNEM. “Three people in a dark blue or black HHR or possibly PT Cruiser came 70 meters out of the building and drove at high speed, hit the brakes very quickly and continued driving. Run over five people, sending two to the hospital and three with additional injuries.”
According to police, pickets blocked the exit to the facility, but the UAW says that was not the case and that it believes the hit-and-run was intentional. “We’re conducting, you know, a very peaceful, legal demonstration, not harassing anyone, not blocking traffic, allowing people in and out that needed to come in,” Dawes told WNEM. “There was no rhyme or reason to it.”
Police are reportedly working to collect video of the accident to determine exactly what happened and hopefully identify the driver. And even though its members were injured, the union has vowed not to allow violence against members to stop the picketing or the strike. As for the driver, there is currently hope that he will decide to turn himself in. “I just hope these people turn themselves in, they’re already in enough trouble. You don’t have to run from the police,” Dawes said.