Pregnant woman hurt when man rams stolen bakery truck into Planned Parenthood, cops say

A 31-year-old man crashed a stolen bakery delivery truck into an East Orange Planned Parenthood clinic, in an attack that injured a pregnant woman and two other people, authorities said Friday.

Marckles Alcius, 31 (Photo: ECPO)

Marckles Alcius, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was charged with attempting to cause widespread injury or damage, six counts of aggravated assault, theft and weapons offenses in the Wednesday incident at the health clinic, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

In a statement, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino and East Orange Public Safety Director Sheliah Coley called the crash a "truck attack."

A staff member and two patients, including the pregnant woman, suffered minor injuries, according to authorities. Emergency medical crews brought two of the injured to the hospital while the third sought treatment herself.

All of the injured have since been released from the hospital, officials said.

Authorities were investigating other possible charges in the ongoing probe, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Adam Wells.

Officials did not immediately disclose a possible motive for the attack or release more details.

"The investigation is ongoing but at this point we do not have any information that he had a connection to this clinic," prosecutor's office spokeswoman Katherine Carter said in an email.

Carter would not release what evidence led prosecutors to believe the crash was intentional.

Gov. Phil Murphy responded to the news Friday night.

"Angered by this week's truck attack against a @PPFA clinic in East Orange. At a time when women's health care is under siege, we must protect and defend safe and affordable health care access for all," the governor said on Twitter.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey said the wreck caused "extensive" damage to the facility, but the organization was lucky that no patients or staff were seriously hurt.

Repairs would likely take several weeks, spokeswoman Kaitlyn Wojtowicz said.

Alcius pleaded not guilty Friday and was being held at the Essex County jail, officials said. The prosecutor's office is seeking to have him remain detained.

There were few details publicly available about Alcius. Records show he has previous addresses in Rhode Island and Orange.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahycFind NJ.com on Facebook.

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