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Witness: People were ‘running for their lives’ in Charlottesville

Posted at 2:25 PM, Aug 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-12 23:51:55-04

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --The mayor of Charlottesville said at least one person was killed after a car plowed into a crowd downtown Saturday afternoon following the clashes broke before the "Unite the Right" rally of white nationalists and other right-wing groups.

UVa. Medical Center officials said 19 people were being treated for injuries.

Mayor Mike Signer said he was "heartbroken that a life has been lost" and urged folks to go home.

Charlottesville Communications Director Miriam I. Dickler said the crash, which involved three cars, happened at Water and 4th streets.

Laura Shae, who has lived in Charlottesville for 26 years, said she witnessed the crash.

“We were driving down,” Shae told CBS 6 reporter Brendan King. “And there was a crowd of people just running with terror on their face.”

Shae said the car plowed into the crowd before it was stopped by two other vehicles. She said the suspect's car then backed over people.

Shae said she saw eight people carried away on stretchers with what she described as bloodied arms and legs.

WCAV reported that the car involved in the crash was later located on Monticello Avenue.

Officials said the driver of the vehicle was taken into custody by Charlottesville Police.

Virginia State Police and Charlottesville Police are investigating the incident.

Stay with WTVR.com for updates on this developing story. Click here to watch LIVE coverage.

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