Truck driver who sped into a crowd of protesters on a highway in Minneapolis released from jail without charges
A truck driver accused of speeding into a crowd of protesters in Minneapolis has been released from jail without charges.
Bogdan Vechirko has been identified as the man who drove an 18-wheeler among a large group of peaceful protesters on the highway in Minneapolis on Sunday. Video showed the truck driving past protesters gathered on the highway shoulder and then coming to a stop just short of some people who stood in front of its path.
Minnesota state officials have said that Vechirko did not appear to have intended to harm anyone but that authorities are still investigating.
A 35-year-old truck driver accused of driving aggressively past peaceful protesters on Sunday in Minneapolis was released from jail on Tuesday.
The truck driver, Bogdan Vechirko, was not charged with a crime.
A statement by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said investigators were still "gathering additional information and answers to aid in the charging decision."
His arrest came after a video showed an 18-wheeler speeding past a large group of peaceful protesters on I-35 in Minneapolis. The highway was shut down and was filled with people demonstrating against the police killing of the Minneapolis resident George Floyd.
Minneapolis state officials said during a Monday press conference that Vechirko appeared to have entered the highway before it was closed. Vechirko, whose tanker truck was not carrying anything, told investigators he drove onto I-35 on accident.
Video footage of the incident showed the truck driving past the crowd at speed for a time. People captured by the I-35 traffic camera quickly scattered as the tanker truck approached, with some running into the green on the side of the freeway altogether.
The driver started to slow down when he approached the protesters and eventually came to a full stop. At that point, he was pulled out of his truck. Nobody was killed in the incident.
Officials said Vechirko acted foolishly but did not appear to have purposefully tried to hurt anyone.
Those on the scene have disputed public officials. A protester named Drew Valle told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the driver showed "a callous disregard for someone's humanity."
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