SBS News: Vic man says premier’s car ran over him. 19 March 2014
A group protesting the East-West Link say the premier’s car drove over the foot of a protester at an impromptu rally in Melbourne.
East-West Link protesters say a member of their group had to be taken to hospital with a possible fracture after a car Victorian Premier Denis Napthine was riding in drove over his foot.
Footage from an impromptu rally in Melbourne’s inner north east on Wednesday shows protesters surrounding a white car, waving placards and blocking its path.
The video, released by the Socialist Party, shows a man in a white t-shirt falling to the ground as the car passes through the crowd, then hobbling away.
The leader a campaign against the East-West Link, Anthony Main, said the man in the video, Toby Dite, was run over by the car and had to be taken to hospital.
“It looks as if he has a fracture in his foot,” Mr Main said.
A spokesman for the Premier said Dr Napthine’s security was handled by Victoria Police and his office did not comment on his personal security arrangements.
“The premier’s office has full confidence in Victoria Police and the dedicated officers who are responsible for his personal security and who sometimes act in very difficult and challenging circumstances,” the spokesman said.
The incident happened after Dr Napthine was spotted in Collingwood by a member of the anti-East-West link group who then called-in 30 people from their “rapid response” list with a text message.
The car, which was being driven by a police officer on the Premier’s security detail, is not the Premier’s usual car.
