PALATKA, Fla. – A city-approved block party in Palatka turned violent Saturday night when a driver in a pick-up truck plowed through a crowd of people, injuring several, and Palatka officers working at the party fired at the truck to stop him, police said. The driver is currently in police custody.
The incident, which sent multiple victims to area hospitals, began at around 8 p.m. at the intersection of North 20th Place and Eagle Street, according to the Palatka Police Department.
Officers said a man drove through the crowd, striking multiple bystanders and vehicles in the area, and officers who were working at the block party tried to stop him.
Palatka PD said the man drove away but returned moments later, crashing into a patrol vehicle and hitting more people and other cars.
Police said that’s when officers started firing at the man to stop the truck, which crashed.
Palatka police said the driver was taken to a hospital, where he is currently being treated for injuries and is in police custody.
Multiple other people were also transported to hospitals, though the extent of their injuries has not been released. At this time, there are no reported injuries to any law enforcement personnel.
The crowd dispersed from the scene, with an estimated 1,000 people regrouping at the Middleton Shopping Center at 18th and Reid streets, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
“There is a large law enforcement presence in the area, including Palatka Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and our deputies to disperse the crowd,” the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been notified and is actively investigating the officer-involved shooting, as well as processing multiple crime scenes associated with the incident, Palatka PD said.
This information is preliminary and remains part of an active investigation. Police said additional details and updates will be released as they become available.