At least 15 people have been injured after an allegedly intoxicated driver plowed into a crowd of people celebrating the Lao New Year in Louisiana, according to police.
Deputies with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office are investigating after a car struck “multiple pedestrians during a parade,” the office said in a statement Saturday.
Several people sustained injuries, some of which were believed to be serious. At least two people were airlifted to the hospital, according to Acadian Ambulance.
Todd Landry, 57, of Jeanerette, faces 18 counts of first-degree negligent injuring, driving while impaired and careless operation of a vehicle, among other charges, police said. Police do not believe the incident was an intentional act based on a preliminary investigation, officials said.
Images shared on social media appear to show several people sitting and lying on the ground next to a blue car that drove into the crowd on Saturday afternoon. Videos appear to show several people bleeding as emergency responders try to rescue a person stuck under the vehicle.
The annual Lao New Year Festival occurs over the Easter weekend in Lanexang Village outside of Broussard, roughly 140 miles west of New Orleans and home to a growing Lao community where refugee resettlement groups began assisting people more than 40 years ago.
The event celebrating Songkran is among the largest gathering of its kind in the U.S.
Organizers of the festival said they were “profoundly saddened” by news of the incident.
“We are awaiting additional details from authorities as they become available. All security resources have been redirected to the scene, and we currently do not have security personnel available due to the circumstances,” they said in a statement.
“We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” the statement added.
Festival events are supposed to last through Sunday but were cancelled for the rest of Saturday following the incident “in the interest of public safety.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry wrote on X that the government and his wife Sharon Landry are “praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene.”
State Attorney General Liz Murrill posted a similar message of support, adding that she would be following up with local law enforcement on the issue.
Louisiana is no stranger to tragedy during New Year celebrations following the Bourbon Street terror attack in New Orleans on January 1, 2025.
Fourteen people were killed and 30 others were injured after Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove his truck into the crowded street. Jabbar, who was reportedly inspired by ISIS, was later killed in a fire fight with police.
