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A vehicle plowed into festival-goers at a Lao New Year parade in rural Louisiana on Saturday, leaving several individuals injured, according to local authorities.
The driver was promptly apprehended and faces charges for driving under the influence, as confirmed by the police.
Footage circulating on social media depicted a chaotic scene at the annual celebration in Broussard and New Iberia, with numerous people lying on the ground. Firefighters were seen assisting someone trapped beneath the vehicle, which eventually came to rest in a ditch along the parade route.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that about 15 individuals sustained injuries, with some in serious condition.
“Preliminary investigations suggest this incident was not deliberate,” stated Rebecca Melancon, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Acadian Ambulance, a private ambulance company, said on social media that it responded to the emergency around 2:30 p.m. and sent 10 ambulances and a helicopter to aid the injured. Two patients were airlifted, it said.
The Louisiana State Police said the driver, who is 57 and lived in Jeanerette, appeared impaired when police arrived and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. He was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration set in the Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia with hundreds of families, and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram.
It features Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade and other family-friendly activities attracting thousands each year.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement about the incident. “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene,” he said.
The festival’s organizers issued a statement on Facebook saying they were “profoundly saddened” by the incident.
“We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” it said.
Afternoon and evening events were canceled, but the festival planned to hold religious services on Sunday, the organizers said.