Driver accused of plowing into pedestrians in Sunnyvale arrested

UPDATE 4/24/2019 2:00 p.m. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety has identified the man arrested for deliberately driving into a group of people, injuring eight.

The suspect is Isaiah Joel Peoples of Sunnyvale. Officials say they are still trying to identify his motive.

The FBI is assisting officials and say if a federal crime was committed, it will become more involved.

There is no word yet on the condition of the victims. The Capt. Jim Choi with Sunnyvale Police says the eight were at a corner or on the crosswalk when the car hit them before smashing into a tree. One of those injured is a 13-year-old girl.

PREVIOUS STORY: The FBI says it’s assisting Bay Area officials in the investigation of a driver who appeared to deliberately plow into a group of people, injuring eight, including a 13-year-old boy.

Prentice Danner, a spokesman for the FBI’s field office in San Francisco, says the Sunnyvale Police Department is the lead agency in the investigation. But Danner says that if it is determined a federal crime was committed, the bureau will become more involved.

Sunnyvale Police Cpt. Jim Choi says the driver of the car was arrested and has been identified but that his name is not being made public to avoid compromising the investigation.

There’s no word on the condition of the victims or a motive for the apparent attack.

KGO-TV reports that witnesses say the man apparently made no effort to stop before hitting the pedestrians.