Odilon Valencia, 26, of Gainesville, reported to police that he and Elias Diaz, 30, of Gainesville, were leaving the restaurant at 10:07 p.m. when several Hispanic men attacked them, Gainesville police said. Valencia said Diaz was hit in the face and that he was struck and knocked to the ground.

Then, the attackers entered separate vehicles and began chasing Valencia and Diaz around the parking lot.

Valencia was struck by one of the vehicles, knocked to the ground and run over by the vehicle.

The assailants then left the location in their vehicles, police said.

Valencia was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries to his head and one of his hands, and was later released.

Diaz suffered a welt to the left side of his face and didn’t need to be taken to the hospital.

The suspect who ran over Valencia is described as in his early 20s and driving an early 1990s blue or purple Cadillac Fleetwood. The other vehicle in the incident is described as a gold Lincoln Navigator, police said.

The suspects are believed to be members of a street gang, Sur 13.

Lt. Brian Kelly, spokesman for the police department, said that interviews of witnesses and collection of other evidence at the scene indicated the gang connection.

The Gainesville-Hall County Gang Task Force is helping in the probe.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Gainesville police at 770-534-5254 or the task force at 770-297-2291.