1 dead, 35 injured after vehicle plows into counter-protesters at white nationalist rally

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - A car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting a white nationalist rally Saturday in a Virginia college town, killing one person and sending at least 35 others to hospitals.

Police identified 32-year-old Heather D. Heyer of Charlottesville as the woman who was killed.

University of Virginia Medical Center spokeswoman Angela Taylor confirmed the death to The Associated Press.

The mayor of Charlottesville said via Twitter on Saturday that he is "heartbroken" to announce that a "life has been lost." He did not provide details.

Witnesses say a car plowed into a crowd of people who were protesting the rally, which was held by white nationalists who oppose the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee by the city of Charlottesville.

An Associated Press reporter saw at least one person on the ground receiving medical treatment immediately after the car careened into the line of several hundred people. The driver was arrested.

Matt Korbon, a 22-year-old University of Virginia student, said counter-protesters were marching when "suddenly there was just this tire screeching sound." A silver sedan smashed into another car, then backed up, plowing through "a sea of people."

People scattered, running for safety in different directions, he said.

MORE: White nationalist rally in Charlottesville prompts Virginia governor to declare state of emergency

Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays. At least eight were injured and one arrested in connection to the earlier violence.

Virginia State Police have made three arrests related to the planned rally at Emancipation Park and the continued unrest following the declaration of an unlawful assembly.

Troy Dunigan, 21, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.
Jacob L. Smith, 21, of Louisa, Virginia, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault & battery.
James M. O'Brien, 44, of Gainesville, Florida, was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed handgun.