California police are searching for the driver of a black SUV who plowed through a group of left-wing protesters in Riverside on Saturday night, critically injuring a 21-year-old woman and igniting a firestorm of outrage online.

The incident unfolded around 9:40 p.m. on University Avenue near Orange Street, where protesters aligned with the “No Kings” movement had gathered to demonstrate against President Trump’s immigration policies. According to police, a group of protesters surrounded the SUV, and video footage circulating on social media shows at least one individual striking or damaging the vehicle’s rear brake light. That’s when the driver accelerated sharply, barreling through the crowd.

A voice in the video can be heard screaming, “They just ran over my sister!”

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The woman struck by the SUV has been identified by friends as Alexa Carrasco, 21. She suffered severe injuries, including a cracked rib, punctured lung, multiple skull fractures, and a broken leg. As of the latest reports, she remains in a medically induced coma and is awaiting a second surgery.

Riverside police are treating the incident as a felony hit-and-run. They have yet to identify the driver and are urging the public to come forward with any tips or footage that might help locate the suspect. Investigators have not confirmed what occurred before the video began rolling, leaving open questions about whether the driver acted in fear, retaliation, or malice.

The video quickly went viral, drawing millions of views and igniting fierce debate online. Conservatives noted that protesters swarmed the vehicle before the driver hit the gas, with some defending the driver’s right to escape what they viewed as an aggressive mob. Others condemned the move as reckless and criminal.

Carrasco’s friends and allies on the Left, meanwhile, painted her as a peaceful demonstrator who had been targeted for her beliefs. “It was just a 21-year-old girl protesting for their family, for human, basic rights,” said Minor Garcia, one of Carrasco’s close friends, in an interview with KTLA.

The “No Kings” protests, which have sprung up in several California cities in recent weeks, are a loosely organized backlash against President Trump’s deportation raids and use of military force to quell anti-ICE riots. Protesters have branded his policies as authoritarian and accuse his administration of targeting minority communities.

Law enforcement officials, however, have pointed to widespread violence, vandalism, and intimidation linked to these same protests. In multiple cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, demonstrators have blocked roads, torched cars, and clashed violently with police. Many participants carry the Mexican flag—a detail that has further fueled conservative criticism and prompted Vice President JD Vance to label the riots “insurrectionist.”

While Carrasco’s condition is drawing sympathy from across the spectrum, the incident underscores a growing pattern of chaos at protest scenes and raises questions about what tactics protesters—and drivers—are willing to use.

Police are continuing their investigation and asking anyone with video, photos, or knowledge of the suspect’s identity to come forward. Meanwhile, more “No Kings” protests are reportedly being planned in the coming days, even as law enforcement steps up its presence in hot spots across Southern California.

As of now, no arrests have been made. Carrasco’s friends say she remains in critical but stable condition.

Expect this case to intensify the national debate on protest tactics, public safety, and how far is too far when politics spill into the streets.