FBI investigating after police say driver 'deliberately' hits people in Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale police investigate an accident on El Camino Real where a driver plowed into pedestrians as they waited to cross the street. Sunnyvale police investigate an accident on El Camino Real where a driver plowed into pedestrians as they waited to cross the street. Photo: KTVU Photo: KTVU Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close FBI investigating after police say driver 'deliberately' hits people in Sunnyvale 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Police in Sunnyvale and the FBI are investigating a major injury collision that left multiple pedestrians injured Tuesday evening.

Based off of a preliminary investigation, authorities believe "a driver deliberately drove into a group of eight pedestrians" on El Camino Real, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Captain Jim Choi said in a statement to the press.

Here's what we know so far about the incident:

— The driver of the Toyota Corolla is in custody, and officials believe this was an isolated incident. On Wednesday afternoon, police identified the suspect as Isaiah Joel Peoples, 34, of Sunnyvale. According to Chronicle reporter Evan Sernoffsky, Peoples is an Afghanistan war veteran who has PTSD.

— The victims were taken to local hospitals to receive treatment for their injuries.

— According to Choi, witness reports "show that the driver did not try to avoid the pedestrians at the cross walk, and there was no attempt to swerve, drive away or brake." The crash took place at El Camino Real and Sunnyvale Ave., around 6:40 p.m. The busy intersection is near a number of restaurants, grocery stores and retailers.

— The Chronicle reports one witness heard the driver saying, "'Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus,' over and over and over again."

— Prentice Danner, a spokesman for the FBI's field office in San Francisco, told the Associated Press the bureau is assisting with the investigation. "If it is determined a federal crime was committed," Danner says the bureau will become more involved in the case.

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.