Police Fail To Act After Vehicle of a Native American Anti-Dakota Access Pipeline Protestor is Struck in Hit and Run in Front of Law Enforcement

CANNON BALL, North Dakota – September 28 - A protestor’s vehicle from anti-Dakota Access Pipeline Sacred Stone Camp was struck in a hit and run by a passing hay truck in sight of police Tuesday. Police did not take action to apprehend the truck driver.

The protestor vehicle, an RV, was on the corner waiting to make a turn during a caravan to a protest site in a rural area near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. The police in two police SUVs barricaded off the left turn, leaving only a right turn for the RV at the T shaped intersection.

The hay truck was carrying large round hay bales, stacked up and sticking out on both the left and right sides. The truck was traveling perpendicular to the protest vehicle before making the left hand turn in front of the RV, swinging wildly and seeming to be on the verge of losing control.

The RV was stuck when the hay smacked into the RV, shaking it nearly off of its tires as onlookers watched in horror. The hay bales took off the mirror and covered the road in hay.

Clearly shaken by the accident, the driver of the RV jumped out and checked the vehicle for damages, discovering the mirror had been completely removed and thrown into the road under a pile of hay.

The truck driver did not stop, leaving the scene of the accident.

Police stationed to the left of the RV had an unobstructed view. The accident was immediately reported to police on the scene. No report was taken and the protestors were instructed to file a report.

The police did not leave to stop the truck for hit and run.

No injuries were reported.

Law enforcement officers from Morton County Sheriff, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and Bismark Police Department were present at the protest.

Protestors have complained that police have ignored criminal actions against them in the past, including failing to file charges against security company employees for using attack dogs and pepper spray in altercations.

Each round hay bale can weigh 3,000lbs but generally weigh between 600-880 pounds.

Protestors at Sacred Stone Camp and Red Warrior Camp are protesting the planned Dakota Access Pipeline route under the Missouri River directly north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The Missouri is the water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

The protest site currently has representatives of over 200 tribes and other indigenous persons representatives from around the world. It is estimated that the camp had 7,000 protestors at its population height.