Police Look for Motive in Carnival Crash

WXYZ.com (Channel 7, ABC Affiliate in Detroit)
May 22, 2006

By Mary Conway, Web produced by Sarah Morgan

Monday, investigators were working to find out why a man plowed his
minivan into a crowd at a school carnival over the weekend. Nine
people were hurt in the bizarre accident.

Seven children and two adults were injured when a minivan drove
through a carnival set up between the Alex and Marie Manoogian Schools
and St. John’s Armenian Church in Southfield.

The children had broken bones and bruises, one woman underwent surgery
for a broken pelvis and another suffered two crushed ankles.

People at the school and church said they don’t know the suspect, so
they can’t imagine his motive.

High school Principal Hosep Torossian said, “We have never seen
him. We don’t know who he is. [We tried] to identify obviously his
license plate number and we called 911 and they were able to apprehend
him. He has absolutely no contact with the school community. We
basically don’t know who he is.”

Police arrested a 34-year-old man at his home in Troy shortly after
the accident.

School administrators believe the man drove through the crowd
deliberately.

Elementary school Principal Dyana Kezelian said, “The kids this
morning, we spoke about how we’re a safe school and they’re always
safe in the school and that these things happen and there’s all kinds
of people in this world that don’t listen and follow directions. They
were concerned that why would he drive through?”

The suspect may be arraigned as early as Tuesday and could be charged
with attempted murder.

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