At least 13 people were injured Saturday when a vehicle drove into a crowd during the Louisiana Lao New Year parade in Iberia Parish, turning a regional celebration into a chaotic emergency scene, authorities said. Multiple people, including several with serious injuries, were taken to local hospitals, and the driver was taken into custody as emergency crews flooded the parade route and investigators started sorting out what happened.
Emergency response and injuries
Acadian Ambulance said crews were dispatched in the early afternoon and reported that 11 patients were taken by ground and two were airlifted. The initial response brought in seven ambulances and an Air Med helicopter before additional units were called to the scene, according to WDSU. Local officials described several of the victims as critically injured as hospitals received the influx of patients.
Investigation underway
The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the driver is in custody and, in a statement quoted by the Associated Press, said that “based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act.” Authorities said the investigation is ongoing as deputies review video and witness accounts to determine how the vehicle got onto the parade route, according to AP.
Where it happened
Local crews reported that the crash happened near the intersection of Melancon Road and Captain Cade Road in the Broussard/New Iberia area, along the route of the community’s Lao New Year Festival parade, which typically draws families from across the region, per KATC. Responders on scene included the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadian Ambulance and local volunteer fire departments.
What witnesses saw
Video shared on social media and reviewed by reporters showed multiple people lying on the ground and at least one person trapped under a vehicle until firefighters were able to free them, AP reported. Bystanders who filmed the frantic aftermath were also seen helping guide first responders as ambulances and helicopters moved patients to nearby hospitals.
What comes next
Officials said they will decide whether criminal charges are appropriate after investigators finish reconstructing the crash and reviewing all available evidence. Early injury counts varied across reports as the response unfolded, and national outlets have continued to summarize the developing investigation and emergency efforts; see reporting from Reuters and local outlets for updates.
