Sunnyvale: Driver in custody after plowing into 8 people, possibly intentionally

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (KTVU) - A driver plowed into eight people in Sunnyvale on Tuesday, and now police are saying the act might have been intentional.

Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Capt. Jim Choi said the eight people were waiting to cross the street at El Camino Real and Sunnyvale Saratoga Road at around 6:30 p.m. when they were struck by the driver, officials said.  While Choi said it appeared as though the driver meant to hurt the people - because witnesses said he didn't look like he was trying to stop - no motive was given. 

"We don't know the motive behind this," Choi said. "The driver might have intentionally ran into the group of people at the sidewalk. There was no attempt to break or steer away." 

His car slammed into a tree after slamming into the people. 

At a news conference officials said some patients had serious injuries, but their conditions were unknown. The youngest victim is said to be a 13-year-old girl.

The driver is in custody. His name was not released.

As of 7:34 p.m., El Camino Real was closed in both directions. Officials hoped to reopen the intersection by Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.

KTVU's Azenith Smith and Elissa Harrington contributed to this report.