36-year-old Tracy Hatfield has been arrested in connection with an incident that involved a vehicle driving onto Integrated Care Hub property on Montreal Street in Kingston, Ont.
The vehicle struck a tent where two homeless individuals were isolating with COVID-19.
The incident happened just after 9 p.m. Wednesday night.
Hatfield turned himself in to police immediately after the incident.
According to Kingston police, this was not a targeted attack and the tent was hit at low speed. The suspect then struck two others while attempting to flee the scene.
“This was definitely not a hate crime towards the unhoused population in any regards. this was a motor vehicle collision an unintentional one at that that unfortunately resulted in the injured of 4 different individuals on the property,” said Kingston Police officer Constable Ash Gutheinz.
Three people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.
After leaving the scene, the suspect drove to the police station and identified themselves.
Witnesses told Global News the vehicle that approached the Integrated Care Hub was driving aggressively in the lot behind the hub, and that screaming could be heard immediately after.
“It was certainly something that shook up the staff as well as the people we serve,” said Gilles Charette the Executive Director of Trellis.
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Trellis oversees the Integrated Care Hub.
Charette says the ICH is prepared for a wide range of emergencies but not what happened Wednesday evening.
“It’s already a challenging situation in that we are dealing with a number of individuals and staff who have contracted covid in the last week and so we were already struggling to manage that,” said Charette.
The 36-year-old suspect faces three charges including: criminal negligence causing bodily harm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Hatfield appeared in court Thursday afternoon and according to court documents he was not under the influence at that time.
Hatfield’s next court appearance is Friday morning for a bail hearing.
This is a developing story, and Global News will update the story as more information becomes available.
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