In brief
During a celebration for the Lao New Year in Louisiana, a vehicle driven by a 57-year-old man struck parade goers, resulting in around 15 injuries. The driver was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving and has since been charged. The annual event, centered in a Laotian neighborhood, includes multiple family activities and had to cancel the remaining festivities following the incident. Local authorities have indicated that this does not seem to be an intentional act.
Several people were injured when a vehicle struck revelers at a parade celebrating the Lao New Year on Saturday in rural Louisiana, authorities said.
The driver was quickly arrested and charged with impaired driving, police reported.
Video shared on social media showed multiple people on the ground at the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia. The videos depicted firefighters tending to one person trapped beneath the car, which ended up in a ditch along the parade route.
About 15 attendees were reported injured, some seriously, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” stated spokesperson Rebecca Melancon.
Acadian Ambulance, a private service, confirmed it responded to the emergency around 2:30 p.m., dispatching 10 ambulances and a helicopter to aid the injured, with two patients airlifted to medical facilities.
Louisiana State Police revealed that the driver, a 57-year-old from Jeanerette, showed signs of impairment upon police arrival and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. Charges against him include impaired, negligent, and careless driving and possessing an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration in the Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia, which attracts thousands with its Southeast Asian food, live music, and family-friendly activities.
In light of the incident, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed his concern, stating, Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene.
The festival’s organizers conveyed their sadness over the incident on social media and emphasized their prayers for the victims and their families during this difficult time. They later announced the cancellation of afternoon and evening events but planned to hold religious services the following day.
