A Massachusetts man has been accused of deliberately crashing a stolen bakery delivery van into a Planned Parenthood clinic in New Jersey, injuring a pregnant woman and two other people.
Marckles Alcius faces numerous charges stemming from Wednesday’s crash in East Orange, including aggravated assault, theft and attempting to cause widespread injury or damage. Further charges also are possible, authorities said.
The 31-year-old Lowell man pleaded not guilty during a court hearing on Friday, and prosecutors in New Jersey said they will seek to have him detained until his trial.
The three injured people were two patients and a staff member, who were treated at a hospital for minor injuries. Alcius wasn’t injured in the crash, but authorities have not said how he got the bakery truck or where it was stolen from.
Authorities also have not disclosed a possible motive for the crash and have declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.
A spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office said there was no information that Alcius had a connection to the clinic, but she would not say why prosecutors believe the crash was intentional.
An after-hours message left Friday night at the clinic was not immediately returned.
Associated Press
