Protester Climbs Atop California Police Cruiser, Is Thrown Off After Officer Accelerates

A protester who climbed on top of a California Highway Patrol (CHP) cruiser was thrown from the vehicle when the officer driving it accelerated outside Sacramento McClellan Airport.

The incident took place as a group of people who gathered to protest President Donald Trump's visit surrounded the cruiser at the intersection of Watt Avenue and Airbase Drive.

Videos posted on social media showed one person, wearing a red hat, climbing onto the hood of the vehicle before moving onto the roof.

They were thrown off the vehicle and fell on the ground when the CHP Dodge Charger sped forward.

Other protesters are then seen running over to check on the person and shouting at the CHP cruiser as it drove away.

"Our camera was rolling when anti-Trump protesters surrounded a CHP patrol car," NBC Bay Area reporter Jodi Hernandez wrote on Twitter alongside a video of the incident.

"One person climbed on the hood and the officer drove forward. Two people were injured...one was taken to hospital. The crowd had gathered to protest the President as he visited Sacramento."

The protester was taken to hospital with minor injuries, CHP said.

In a statement to KCRA, CHP said two of its officers who were conducting traffic control in the area had been trying to leave the intersection at the time.

"As the lead vehicle began to pull away, one of the protesters climbed up the hood of the patrol vehicle," the statement said. "Fearing for his safety, the officer began to accelerate away and the protester fell off the vehicle." CHP has been contacted for additional comment

According to KCRA, there were two other instances of vehicles striking protesters marching around McClellan Park on Monday.

A Volvo sideswiped two protesters off Dudley Boulevard, injuring two protesters.

KCRA reporter Vicki Gonzalez tweeted that she saw the green vehicle "swipe at least two demonstrators," breaking one of the car's windows.

One of the demonstrators was taken away in an ambulance while the other was treated at the scene by fellow demonstrators, Gonzalez wrote.

CHP's activity log said the green Volvo was located and stopped by CHP officers within 20 minutes of it reportedly striking "multiple" pedestrians.

In the other incident, a red truck drove through protesters off Palm Street, according to KCRA. It wasn't clear if there were injuries as a result of that incident.

Some Trump supporters had rallied against anti-Trump protesters in the area, the station reported.

"We've had all kind of Trump supporters coming through, running us over, hitting us with their cars," one protester, who declined to give their name, told local media.

"The police, trying to turn over into our protest, we surround the cars, we get near the cars asking them to leave. They won't leave, and next thing you know, they're starting to drive through the crowd."