RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (AP) – A North Carolina man who drove his car into a group of migrant workers in a Walmart parking lot, injuring six men, turned himself in to police on Monday night.
Daniel Gonzalez, 68, of Hickory, surrendered at the Lincolnton Police Department with several relatives by his side, the department said in a statement. His family members told detectives that Gonzalez had hit the gas pedal accidentally while trying to park his car and left the scene in a panic.
Gonzalez had rammed his sports utility vehicle into a group of 20-30 migrant workers who were waiting on Sunday morning to board a shuttle bus that travels to and from a nearby farm.
An original statement from the police department earlier on Monday said detectives believed the assault was intentional. Interim chief of the Lincolnton Police Department Major Brian Greene said the driver’s motives are still under investigation, and that police are considering the new evidence.
Officers recovered the black sport utility vehicle involved in the crash. They arrested Gonzalez on Monday night and charged him with a felony hit and run with a USD50,000 secure bond.
The victims were treated at a local hospital for their injuries, and all six were released on Sunday.
