You can if you have a certain perk. And another one will let you run over their heads. Or tackle them. Getting grabbed isn't really a thing anymore later on.
Oh I have both unlocked. They just lunge at you from the side and you stop, turn 90 degrees to face them and then get them to release you.
Really pisses me off
Also if you're climbing the bridge for the UV lamps... yeah I called those traps they put there. Still got knocked down by a zombie though. She must have knocked me 2 meters minimum off the bridge. No other zombie has knocked me back that much since.
Cheapskates