Semi driver who drove into crowd of 35W protesters identified

MINNEAPOLIS (AP/SMN) — Thousands of people marching on a closed Minneapolis freeway on Sunday over the death of George Floyd ducked for their lives when a semitrailer rolled into their midst.

The driver has been identified as 35-year-old Bogdan Vechirko, of Otsego.  Vechirko is a contract employee of Ken Advantage, a trucking firm out of North Canton, Ohio.

Vechirko was treated for minor injuries, then booked in the Hennepin County Jail on possible assault charges.

The Minnesota State Patrol said they knew of no injuries from the incident on Interstate 35W near downtown Minneapolis. The patrol called it a “very disturbing” and “inciting” action by the driver but it wasn’t clear whether it was deliberate.

Officials said the truck appeared to have been on the freeway before barriers were put up to close it down. Some witnesses said a handful of people sought medical attention on their own, but authorities said they could not confirm that.