Vehicle strikes revelers at Lao New Year parade in rural Louisiana
A vehicle struck revelers during the Lao New Year celebration parade in rural Louisiana on Saturday, injuring about 15 people, some seriously, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office. Video shared online showed multiple people on the ground along the parade route, with firefighters tending to a person trapped beneath the car after it ended up in a ditch.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Rebecca Melancon said the agency’s preliminary investigation indicated the incident did not appear to be an intentional act. Authorities said the driver was quickly arrested following the crash and charged with impaired driving.
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. State police said the man was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and with having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.
Acadian Ambulance, a private ambulance provider, said on social media that it responded to the emergency around 2:30 p.m. The company said it sent 10 ambulances and a helicopter and airlifted two patients to get care.
The crash happened as part of a three-day New Year celebration set in Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia with hundreds of families, and near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram. Organizers said the event includes Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade and other family-friendly activities that attract thousands each year.
After the incident, the festival canceled afternoon and evening events, and organizers said they planned to hold religious services on Sunday. In a statement on Facebook, the festival’s organizers said they were “profoundly saddened” by the crash and said they were “praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement saying “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene.” The driver remains in custody as the investigation continues, with authorities describing the inquiry as preliminary.