15 Injured in Vehicle Crash at Louisiana Lao Parade
At least 15 people were injured, some seriously, when a vehicle struck participants during a Lao New Year parade in New Iberia, Louisiana, on Saturday afternoon, authorities reported.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. along the parade route near Captain Cade and Melancon roads in Iberia Parish, during the annual Louisiana Lao New Year Festival. Video footage shared on social media captured the aftermath, showing several people on the ground and firefighters attending to at least one individual trapped under the vehicle, which came to rest in a ditch. The Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office stated that the driver was taken into custody following the crash.
According to Sheriff's Office spokesperson Rebecca Melancon, the preliminary investigation indicated the incident did not appear to be intentional. Details on what led to the vehicle entering the crowd remain unclear, and the driver's identity has not been released. Local authorities have launched a full probe into the circumstances.
Emergency responders acted swiftly to aid the victims. Acadian Ambulance Service deployed 10 ambulances and one helicopter to the scene, transporting 11 patients by ground and airlifting two others...