2 Injured at Bell Helicopter Plant Car Wreck

from the Fort Worth Star Telegram

Two striking workers were taken to the hospital and one person was arrested early Wednesday after what police called an "auto vs. pedestrian" incident outside the Bell Helicopter plant in east Fort Worth, according to reports.

It was the first arrest associated with the month-old strike, said Fort Worth police Capt. Bryan Sudan.

"It's very early in the investigation, but one gentleman was taken into custody for a possible assault," Sudan said. "The motive I can't tell you; that's going to come from statements."

The injured people were taken to the hospital by ambulance, said Lara Kohl, MedStar spokeswoman. Their conditions at the hospital, however, were unavailable Wednesday morning.

"I know one person got his foot run over and that was probably the worst of the injuries," Sudan said. "Presently we're taking statements from all the parties involved."

The incident was witnessed by Mike Sandberg of Keller, who said he has been picketing with fellow strikers since June 14.

"There was a guy in a silver Miata who was getting to work and he was behind another guy," Sandberg said. "The strikers were walking between the two cars, and this guy was trying to swerve around to get into work faster."

Sandberg said that when that happened, one striker’s foot was run over and another was "clipped" by a mirror on the car.

"He was in cuffs and they put him in the back of the car," Sandberg said of the driver. "There was no mistaking he was being arrested."

The Associated Press reported that union representatives and officials from Bell Helicopter were scheduled to return to the bargaining table today -- the fourth time since nearly 2,500 manufacturing workers went on strike a month ago.

"We've had minor incidents," Sudan said, "(But ) this is the first custodial arrest we've made out there."

He added that he did not know if any tickets had been issued to anyone on either side of the strike.

Patrol officers have been monitoring activities at the plant, and Bell officials have hired off-duty officers to work security, Sudan said.

The department allows uniformed police officers to work off-duty security jobs at businesses such nightclubs and movie theaters.