A minimum of 13 individuals had been hospitalized after an impaired driver struck revelers at a parade celebrating the Lao New Yr in Louisiana, officers mentioned.
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The automobile struck “a number of pedestrians” Saturday afternoon on the nook of Savannakhet Avenue and Melancon Street in Broussard, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Workplace instructed NBC Information. The 57-year-old driver was arrested.
Broussard is positioned about 8 miles southwest of Lafayette and close to the town of New Iberia.
“A number of people sustained accidents, a few of that are believed to be critical,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
The crash occurred throughout a Lao New Yr occasion celebrating the Buddhist new yr. Ambulance service Acadian Ambulance mentioned on X that it transported 11 sufferers by floor and two by air because of the incident.
The driving force was quickly after taken into custody. Louisiana State police recognized him as Todd Landry, of Jeanerette, a small metropolis of about 5,000 in Iberia Parish.
Landry confirmed “indicators of impairment,” and a breathalyzer take a look at indicated he had a blood alcohol content material degree of 0.137%, in response to state police. The authorized restrict in Louisiana is 0.08%.
He was booked into the Iberia Parish jail for driving whereas impaired, 18 counts of first-degree negligent injuring, careless operation and having open alcohol container in his car, state police mentioned.
Landry couldn’t be reached for remark Saturday night time.
“Primarily based on the preliminary investigation, this doesn’t look like an intentional act,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned earlier.
The investigation is ongoing.
Competition organizers canceled Saturday night’s music applications in gentle of the crash.
“We’re profoundly saddened by the information of the incident close to the competition grounds. We’re awaiting extra particulars from authorities as they develop into out there,” organizers mentioned in a submit on the occasion’s Fb web page, noting that safety has been redirected to the scene.
“We’re praying for the victims and for his or her households throughout this tough time,” they added.
The competition will reopen scheduled non secular companies Sunday and distributors shall be open if safety assets “are restored,” the organizers mentioned.
Gov. Jeff Landry wrote on Fb: “Sharon and I are praying for all these affected, and are grateful for the primary responders who’ve responded to the scene.”