INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Prosecutor has filed formal charges against the 68-year-old woman accused of striking multiple people with her vehicle while attempting to drive through a group of protesters on Monument Circle.
The incident occurred just before 8:30 p.m. on June 8.
On the night of the incident, the prosecutor's office says Diane Goebel was driving her minivan east on the south side of Monument Circle. According to witness statements listed in court documents filed against Goebel and video footage obtained from nearby businesses, Goebel was in traffic approaching a group of pedestrians participating in a demonstration. The prosecutor's office says they believe Goebel attempted to drive slowly through the group when her vehicle moved forward, striking several pedestrians.
The prosecutor's office claims at least four people sustained injuries as a result of the collision.
According to the probable cause filed against Goebel, a witness told detectives he saw a group of demonstrators beating on a DPW truck and yelling at the driver and was trying to get the driver out of the way when he heard the commotion surrounding the minivan. The witness stated that he looked up and saw a van in the intersection with people swarming it as it was trying to accelerate. He said he also saw people trying to bust out the van's windows and saw at least two people jump on the hood. He said the van braked and the people came off the hood.
One of the demonstrators involved in the incident told police that he saw the minivan try to pull through the crowd and when it got to him he jumped on the hood "so it wouldn't take out his legs." He said the driver continued to accelerate and he rolled off, landing on his back and elbow and striking his head.
Detectives also viewed security video from IPL which showed Geobel's vehicle stopped in traffic for one minute before it started to go around the pedestrians. The video then showed more pedestrians moving toward the van and at least one jumping onto the hood.
According to the probable cause document, additional security footage from Dodd Technologies showed the minivan approaching Meridian St. and vehicle traffic stopped due to the pedestrians demonstrating in the roadway. Several cars then enter the circle and the minivan can be seen moving forward through a narrow gap in the pedestrians, according to the detective who viewed the video. One pedestrian then walks in front before being joined by another pedestrian and the minivan continues to slowly roll forward and appears to strike them. The crowd around the minivan then grows, according to the detective viewing the video, and multiple pedestrians begin striking the sides of the minivan and others are seen on the hood.
Police are still asking anyone with additional information about the incident to contact them or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
READ | Protesters describe moment minivan drove through crowd at Monument Circle
