A celebration of the Lao New Year in rural Louisiana turned tragic on Saturday when a vehicle struck a crowd of revelers. The incident occurred during the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia, leading to around 15 people being injured, with some sustaining serious injuries.
Authorities quickly apprehended the 57-year-old driver, a resident of Jeanerette, who appeared impaired upon their arrival. The driver was charged with impaired, negligent, and careless driving, as well as possessing an open container of alcohol.
Video footage shared on social media depicted multiple injured individuals on the ground, with emergency responders assisting one person trapped under the vehicle, which ended up in a ditch along the parade route.
According to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, initial investigations indicate that this does not appear to have been an intentional act.
The Acadian Ambulance service, which responded at around 2:30 p.m., dispatched ten ambulances and a helicopter for airlifting two of the patients.
A statement from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry expressed sympathy for the victims, stating, \u201cSharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene.\u201d
The festival's organizers also expressed their profound sadness over the incident and announced a cancellation of afternoon and evening festivities, although they planned to continue with religious services on Sunday.
This parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration in the Lanxang Village, a Laotian community near New Iberia, showcasing Southeast Asian culture with food, music, and various activities.
