Salt Lake City, UT — A protester was struck by a vehicle during a large demonstration in Salt Lake City on Saturday, leading to an ongoing investigation by local authorities. The incident occurred near 350 South State Street, as part of a protest that began at the Utah State Capitol and ended at Washington Square Park.
The individual, later identified as Anahi Padilla-Oliver, reported that she had been standing with a sign during the demonstration when a vehicle slowed down near the group. According to Padilla-Oliver, she saw other participants moving out of the way of the vehicle, which stopped briefly before accelerating toward her.
Padilla-Oliver described the moment, saying the car pushed her a couple of feet forward before she was able to move aside with the assistance of another participant. “The driver seemed fully aware of my presence and continued to drive into me before fleeing the scene,” she told ABC4. “This experience shook me, but I’m empowered to speak about it and voice the experience of standing together with my community.”
Following the incident, emergency responders were called to the scene, and Padilla-Oliver received attention from medical personnel. Event organizers, including Emilee Dekle, the lead communications liaison for Utah March, confirmed that team members had witnessed the event and provided immediate care to Padilla-Oliver until medical personnel arrived. Padilla-Oliver was reportedly heading to the hospital for a full evaluation on Sunday.
The Salt Lake City Police Department has opened an investigation, but as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have been confused about how to handle the situation, with some individuals possibly making contact with the car in an attempt to stop it.
The protest on Saturday drew an estimated 1,100 attendees, far surpassing organizers’ expectations. Despite the troubling incident, Dekle emphasized that the turnout has given the group renewed motivation. “We were very shocked by the outcome, but it gave us a lot of motivation to keep moving forward,” she said.
As the investigation continues, Padilla-Oliver’s experience serves as a reminder of the risks associated with large-scale demonstrations. The protest, which aimed to amplify the voices of those advocating for change, now faces increased attention due to the shocking event that unfolded.