A woman is facing multiple charges after she struck several demonstrators with her vehicle during a midday protest near the border of Hudson and Bergen counties, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of Fairview and Anderson avenues, where demonstrators were marching across the street to protest federal immigration policies, according to Fairview Police Chief Vincent Bellucci.
As protesters temporarily halted traffic, a confrontation began between one participant and a motorist identified as Linda Roglen. Bellucci said demonstrators began surrounding Roglen’s vehicle when she attempted to drive through the intersection, striking multiple individuals.
“They were crossing the street and this lady was at the light and started driving over them,” said a witness who declined to be identified.
One bystander reported the driver shouted support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before accelerating, despite being stopped at a red light. The vehicle and its license plate were captured on video, according to witnesses.
Police confirmed several people suffered minor injuries and one person was transported to a local hospital. All injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Roglen has been charged with four counts of assault by auto resulting in bodily injury. She also faces multiple motor vehicle violations, including reckless driving, careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injuries, and failure to report a motor vehicle crash.
