Children were heard "screaming" after a drink driver ploughed through a family Christmas event - hitting police cruisers and an officer. "

The crash happened around 8pm on December 5, 2025, when hundreds of people were gathered in Manassas City, Virginia, for their annual tree lighting event.

Video footage shows the moment the driver, Jackson Burnkley Harlow, 24, sped off after hitting a police cruiser - while families were screaming and running for safety.

During the festivities, Harlow, ignored officers' instructions and drove through road closure barriers on the street.

In doing so, he struck a stationary Manassas City Police Department cruiser, and a uniformed officer, resulting in a minor injury.

As officers approached the vehicle, the driver again ignored officers' instructions to stop the vehicle, rapidly accelerating again on West Street toward Prince William Street, at one point swerving onto the sidewalk and striking a street sign.

The vehicle then turned left onto Prince William Street, striking additional road closure fixtures and two additional police cruisers that were blocking the roadway, before coming to a rest at the intersection of Prince William Street and Liberty Street.

Officers surrounded the vehicle and ultimately took the driver, who was deemed to be intoxicated, into custody.

Molly Kelly, a realtor, who was there with her daughter, said: "We were in the meet and greet for Santa while this was happening."

"First, he ran over the barricade that was stopping cars from coming through."

"We heard an officer screaming stop. It looked like he was coming straight for us, but he hit the cop car instead."

"It all happened so fast, I was thinking how we were all trapped in these fences, and the next minute, you know, there was the loudest bang."

"We were all so shocked."

Harlow has been charged with attempting malicious wounding, disregarding law enforcement officer's signal to stop, resulting in endangerment, and driving under the influence with blood alcohol content greater than 20 per cent.

He was also charged with obstruction of justice, and hit-and-run resulting in unattended property damage greater than $250 and is being held without bond.