A Headingley man has been arrested following a hit and run on Broadway at Memorial Boulevard on Friday, February 4, 2022. (TWITTER)
Winnipeg police and RCMP arrested a Headingley man Friday night after a group of protestors were struck by a vehicle near the Manitoba legislature.
Video of the incident on social media shows a white Jeep Patriot colliding with protestors on westbound Broadway and speeding away towards Osborne Street. Police say the incident happened at around 9:10 p.m. and the driver took off westbound on Portage Avenue at a high rate of speed while blowing through red lights.
Protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions began Friday morning in Winnipeg.
A photo circulating online from the pedestrian-vehicle collision shows a man dressed in a yellow snowsuit laying on the ground with his leg partially underneath the vehicle’s front left tire.
According to police, four men were struck by the vehicle — three of which were treated for minor injuries at the scene by paramedics. A fourth man was taken to hospital.
The driver was eventually apprehended in the 4800 block of Portage Avenue at around 10:30 p.m. after a brief struggle with officers.
Winnipeg police Const. Rob Carver said the suspect made a comment that his motivation wasn’t related to the vaccine mandate or general views of the protestors. He also wasn’t participating in the protest at the time he drove his vehicle through the scene.
Carver said individuals at the scene were cooperative and provided officers with digital material, including video, of the incident. Broadway is now down to one lane in either direction and police advised motorists to avoid the area if they don’t need to travel down Broadway.
David Alexander Zegarac, 42, has been charged with numerous offences and remains in custody.
Watch: Winnipeg police provide information on Friday’s hit and run
Watch: Vehicle collides with protestors on Broadway Friday night
Video via CHVN/Rick Wall/Facebook
