Vehicle strikes revelers at Lao New Year parade in rural Louisiana

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A vehicle struck revelers during a Lao New Year parade Saturday in rural Louisiana, injuring about 15 people and prompting cancellations and statements from state officials and festival organizers, authorities said.

The crash occurred during the annual celebration held at Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram, where the multi-day festival typically draws hundreds of families and thousands of attendees, authorities and organizers said.

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office said the injured included people taken by firefighters and emergency responders after the vehicle left the parade route and ended up in a ditch, according to initial information shared as video circulated online.

Rebecca Melancon, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said investigators had not found evidence suggesting the incident was deliberate. “Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” Melancon said.

Authorities said the driver was arrested quickly and faced charges tied to impaired driving. Louisiana State Police said the 57-year-old driver lived in Jeanerette, appeared impaired when police arrived, and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level.

Louisiana State Police said the driver was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. The agency did not specify the number of charges beyond those listed.

Acadian Ambulance said it responded to the emergency around 2:30 p.m., sending 10 ambulances and a helicopter to help injured people. The company said it airlifted two patients.

Officials and organizers said the festival’s schedule was adjusted after the crash. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were praying for those affected and were grateful for first responders.

The festival’s organizers said they were “profoundly saddened” and that they were “praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” according to a Facebook statement. Organizers canceled afternoon and evening events but said they planned to hold religious services on Sunday.